New video captured by an observatory close to the Sun shows a snake seemingly moving in slow motion across the Sun’s surface.
The European Space Agency’s spotted the “serpent”. Solar OrbiterIt is not really stellar SquamateBut this is a new solar phenomenon that has been observed and may be related to massive Sun eruptions.
The Orbiter observed the moving structure on 5 September as it moved in for its close approach – called a perihelion – planned for 12 October, the closest Solar Orbiter had been yet. (The video is from that encounter This was incredibleBy the way.
Solar Orbiter was approaching, and it saw a rippling path that ran across the Sun. According to solar scientists, this tube is made of plasma from the Sun’s surrounding plasma. It is also bound by solar magnetic field.
The video shows the plasma moving across the Sun following a filament from the solar magnetic fields.
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Although plasma is flowing from one side to another, the magnetic field is twisted. You’re seeing a twisted structure so you’re experiencing this change in direction. David Long is an astronomer.University College London, UK
The complex nature of solar magnetic fields is a challenge. It takes a lot of effort to understand their behavior and how they work.
However, the solar atmosphere is made of plasma composed of charged particles. They are easily contained by magnetic fields.
Fusion generators like the tokamaks rely on magnetic fields for plasma confinement – but it also means that if you can follow the structures in the plasma, you can get a pretty good idea of what the magnetic fields are doing.
The solar snake allows scientists and engineers to observe the magnetic field in motion, but it’s its movement away from the magnetic fields that makes it more fascinating.
After the filament had carved its route across the Sun’s surface, it began to emit coronal mass, which sent plasma out into space.
Sunspots are regions with concentrated magnetic fields on the Sun that are often associated with these eruptions. These magnetic field lines snap, tangle and reconnect. Coronal mass ejections can be producedSometimes, solar flares.
It is possible the snake may have been connected to something. One of the strongest detected by Solar Orbiter, possibly as a precursor for the eruption.
Solar Orbiter wasn’t the only one up there. NASA’s Parker Solar Probe was also directly in the path of the coronal mass eruption. It’s unharmed – it was designed to withstand solar tantrums, and measure them to boot, so we’re all eagerly waiting to see what it found in the plasma ejected by such a monumental eruption.
In the meantime, the next Solar Orbiter Perihelion will take place in April next year. The Sun’s sunspot activity is increasing, which leads to the peak of its activities. Activity cycle for 11 yearsWe are excited to see what this little probe has in store for us.
