#AstroMiniBR: the biggest solar storm in decades!

Each week, TecMundo and #AstroMiniBR select the most relevant astronomical curiosities produced by the team’s collaborators. profile in x to share with you a little more of our extraordinary and awe-inspiring universe!

#1: Solar storm creates auroras around the world!

Last Friday (10), the solar wind generated by our star’s biggest storm in the last 20 years reached planet Earth! Known as geomagnetic storms, these are complex natural phenomena that occur when the solar wind, composed primarily of charged particles emitted by the Sun, interacts with the Earth’s magnetic field.

these storms Can be triggered by solar flares or coronal mass ejections Once they reach the Earth’s magnetosphere, they are guided by the electromagnetic effect towards the poles of the planet, where they interact with atoms and molecules in the Earth’s atmosphere.

The interaction of these particles, especially with oxygen and nitrogen atoms, results in a beautiful sight known as auroras, which appear as colorful glows in the night sky, usually seen in countries near the north and south poles.

This phenomenon can be described simply as follows: Energetic particles collide with atoms and molecules in the atmosphere, exciting them and causing them to release photons of light with characteristic colors. At high altitudes, oxygen produces red auroras, while nitrogen produces blue and green auroras.

These light displays not only fascinate observers, but also provide valuable information about the interaction between the Sun and Earth and its impact on the space and terrestrial environment.

#2: How long does it take for a photon to leave the Sun?

Inside the core of the Sun, Photons are constantly produced through nuclear reactions such as the fusion of hydrogen into helium.. However, the path of these photons to the solar surface is a complex process of scattering and absorption in the dense solar material.

It is estimated that a photon takes approximately 100,000 to 200,000 years to travel from the Sun’s core to its surface. The reason for this long period is that photons are constantly absorbed and re-emitted by hydrogen atoms; This creates a “sea” of particles that blocks the Sun’s motion. their direct advancement.

A photon originating from the surface of the Sun travels through space until it reaches Earth. This journey takes only 8 minutes and 20 seconds, at an average speed of 300 thousand kilometers per second, close to the speed of light. Therefore, the photon, which takes thousands of years to travel inside the Sun, reaches the Earth a few minutes after leaving the surface of the Sun.

This rapid displacement of light It is crucial to sustaining life on Earth and to our understanding of the physical processes that govern the universe!

#3: Solar storm seen from space!

Geomagnetic storm last weekend Originated from AR3664 active site, shown in the time-lapse video below. These images were taken by the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) telescope launched by NASA in 2010. Equipped with advanced devices, SDO can capture high-resolution images of the Sun in various wavelength ranges.

You can see in this video Active regions of the Sun are areas where intense activity occurs, such as solar flares, explosions, and the appearance of sunspots. These regions are vital for studying solar dynamics and their effects on Earth’s space weather.

By providing real-time data on solar activity, SDO helps predict solar storms and manage potential combat actions to protect satellites, astronauts, and communications systems on Earth.

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