Flashy Flares

The STEREO (Behind) spacecraft observed no fewer than four flares (and likely five) from one active region over about a 30-hour period (Nov. 6-7, 2010). These were minor to medium-sized flares, but even so they still overwhelmed the telescope sensors enough to cause artifacts of light seen as quick streaks as well as staggered, carat-shaped brightenings, which are the diffraction pattern off the internal structures in the EUVI telescope (see still image). Flares are brief but intense solar storms that are known to blast radiation into space, but not a lot of plasma particles.

• 304flares_Nov_zm_best.mov   
• 304flares_Nov_zm_sm.mov   
• 304flares_Nov_zm_best.mpg   
• 304flares_Nov_zm_512vs.mpg   
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