Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                 2024 May 15
   [2]Part of the Sun is pictured, oriented as the right edge. The surface
        is textured like a carpet. Over the edge a long multi-pronged
   prominence stands out. Behind the Sun is the darkness of space. Please
             see the explanation for more detailed information.

                          AR 3664 at the Sun's Edge
               Image Credit & Copyright: [3]Sebastian Voltmer

   Explanation: What did the monster active region that created the recent
   auroras look like when at the Sun's edge? There, [4]AR 3664 better
   showed its 3D structure. Pictured, a large multi-pronged [5]solar
   prominence was captured extending from chaotic [6]sunspot region AR
   3664 out into space, just one example of the particle clouds ejected
   from this violent solar region. The Earth could [7]easily fit under
   this long-extended prominence. The featured image was captured two days
   ago from this constantly changing region. Yesterday, the [8]strongest
   solar flare [9]in years was expelled (not shown), a blast classified in
   the upper [10]X-class. [11]Ultraviolet light from that flare quickly
   hit the [12]Earth's atmosphere and caused shortwave [13]radio blackouts
   across both [14]North and South America. Although [15]now rotated to be
   facing slightly away from the Earth, particles from AR 3664 and
   subsequent [16]coronal mass ejections (CMEs) might still follow
   [17]curved magnetic field lines [18]across the inner [19]Solar System
   and create more [20]Earthly auroras.

           Gallery: [21]Earth Aurora from Solar Active Region 6443
                       Tomorrow's picture: open space
     __________________________________________________________________

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    Authors & editors: [33]Robert Nemiroff ([34]MTU) & [35]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([36]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [37]Specific rights apply.
            [38]NASA Web Privacy, [39]Accessibility, [40]Notices;
                A service of: [41]ASD at [42]NASA / [43]GSFC,
                         [44]NASA Science Activation
                           & [45]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2405/AR3664Prom_Voltmer_1728.jpg
   3. https://voltmer.de/about/
   4. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240511.html
   5. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap230801.html
   6. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240513.html
   7. https://3dnews.ru/assets/external/illustrations/2013/11/01/774378/kitty.jpg
   8. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/sun-erupts-with-largest-flare-of-this-solar-cycle-but-auroras-unlikely/
   9. https://www.sws.bom.gov.au/Educational/2/3/9
  10. https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/10109/
  11. https://science.nasa.gov/ems/10_ultravioletwaves/
  12. https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-atmosphere/earths-atmosphere-a-multi-layered-cake/
  13. https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/phenomena/solar-flares-radio-blackouts
  14. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americas
  15. https://spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=14&month=05&year=2024
  16. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronal_mass_ejection
  17. https://spaceweather.com/repeat_images/parkerspiral2.png
  18. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heliospheric_current_sheet
  19. https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/facts/
  20. https://www.facebook.com/media/set?set=a.431368006258449&type=3
  21. https://www.facebook.com/media/set?set=a.431368006258449&type=3
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240514.html
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  26. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  28. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  30. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  31. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=240515
  32. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240516.html
  33. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  34. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  35. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  36. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  37. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  38. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  39. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  40. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  41. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  42. https://www.nasa.gov/
  43. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  44. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  45. http://www.mtu.edu/