SOHO Pick of the Large X-1 Flare Explodes
Early on April 21, 2002, a large (X-1) flare and a partial halo
coronal mass ejection (CME) exploded out from the Sun from near its
west (right) limb. At 5:36 UT, not long after the flare, one can see
bright loops in the ultraviolet EIT 195 ANSGTROM image near the
source of the flare. One can also observe the pronounced proton storm
of high-energy particles at about the same time in the LASCO C3 image
taken in visible light. The accompanying coronal mass ejection can
also be seen in the image and movie as clouds of expanding particles.
The front edge of the CME reached Earth just two days later and did
generate some auroral activity. The proton storming continued for
well over two days, though by April 23 is now showing signs of
lessening.
CME shock front as it passes the SOHO spacecraft early on April 23, 2002.
SOHO began its Weekly Pick some time after
sending a weekly image or video clip to the American Museum of
Natural History (Rose Center) in New York City. There, the SOHO Weekly Pick is displayed with some annotations on a large plasma display.
If your institution would also like to receive the same Weekly Pick from us
for display (usually in Photoshop or QuickTime format), please send
your inquiry to steele.hill@gsfc.nasa.gov.
