Solar Tsunami - December 14, 2007

One of the STEREO spacecraft (Ahead) caught an enourmous wave as it rippled across the most of the Sun (Dec. 7, 2007). While the visual effect is subtle when observed in at extreme UV wavelengths, (especially in any still image) there is nothing subtle about the roughly 500,000 miles it traverses at a speed of 500-1500 km/s in a just few hours or the amount of energy it carries. This event was likely triggered by a small flare and CME from Active Region 977. Scientists believe this is the most substantial wave of this type observed by STEREO.

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