IT LOOKS LIKE something from a science fiction film – especially given the dramatic soundtrack – but this video of a solar flare was in fact taken by NASA.
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which keeps a constant watch on the sun, spotted the flare erupting on Wednesday at around 3pm GMT.
The eruption, which NASA describes as ‘graceful’ on its YouTube description, can be seen in two wavelengths of extreme ultraviolet light in the video.
Solar flares are sudden and powerful bursts of radiation at the sun’s surface which appear as giant flashes of light. The flare here is a mid-level flare, according to NASA, which means it is ten times less powerful than the most intense ones.
Still amazing though.
(Video: NASA Goddard/YouTube)
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