Image credit: NASA/ESA
Solar tsunamis are real, says NASA
Posted on Friday, 27 November, 2009 | 5 comments
Up until now the powerful waves of plasma observed on the surface of the sun known as "solar tsunamis" were thought to be the result of an optical illusion but NASA scientists have since been able to confirm that they are in fact real.
Incredibly powerful waves of plasma rippling across the surface of the sun and dubbed "solar tsunamis" were first observed years ago, but were thought to be an optical illusion. Scientists have now confirmed, though, that they are really real.When scientists first saw the phenomenon, it was hard to believe that a towering wave of hot plasma was actually racing along the sun's surface.One of the waves rose up higher than the diameter of Earth and rippled out from a central point in a circular pattern millions of miles wide, like a gargantuan pattern of waves created by a pebble dropped in a pond.Skeptical observers suggested it might be a shadow of some kind – a trick of the eye. But new observations from NASA's STEREO (Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory) spacecraft are telling researchers that this controversial phenomenon isn't an illusion.
View: Full article | Source: Space.com News story suggestion by: Still Waters Discuss: View comments (5)
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Recent comments on this story
#1 Posted by behaviour??? on 26 November, 2009, 10:52Oh...So Tsunami is not only creating havoc for earth but puzzling our scientists? Thanks B???
#2 Posted by thefinalfrontier on 26 November, 2009, 16:27Hi SW; I happened accross this article earlier today and it is of course another mystery of our amazing universe, That is one HUGE sunami larger than the size of earth, Im just happy that the thing is not hurled towards earth, Just imagine the havoc it would release, Regards; TFF
#3 Posted by :PsYKoTiC:BeHAvIoR: on 27 November, 2009, 8:40I was glad a video was posted along with the article. Although amazing, I wouldn't call it a solar tsunami per say. It appeared more like an explosive burst than anything else, but I concur since I'm not part of the research team.
#4 Posted by .i. on 27 November, 2009, 9:36I saw a documentary where they talked about these tsunamis but they never mentioned these waves were illutions. I guess they were right, I dont feel surprised about that.
#5 Posted by Metal Angel on 27 November, 2009, 16:39I am freaked out now.Imagine what would happen if solar tsunamis hit Earth?
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