sun
Coronal Loops Might Not Be Loops At All
We've all seen the gorgeous images and videos of coronal loops. They're curved magnetic forms that force brightly glowing plasma…
A Colossal Flare Erupted From the Far Side of the Sun
Earlier this week the Sun erupted with a huge explosion, blasting solar particles millions of kilometers into space. The team…
During a Solar Flare, Dark Voids Move Down Towards the Sun. Now We Know Why
Solar flares are complex phenomena. They involve plasma, electromagnetic radiation across all wavelengths, activity in the Sun's atmosphere layers, and…
Parker Solar Probe Flies Through the Sun’s Outer Atmosphere for the First Time
For the first time ever, a spacecraft has flown through the Sun’s outer atmosphere. The Parker Solar Probe passed through…
Astronomy Jargon 101: Chromosphere
In this series we are exploring the weird and wonderful world of astronomy jargon! You’ll get a good look at today's…
This Incredible Photo of the Sun is Made up of 150,000 Individual Photographs
You’re looking at a 300-megapixel photo of our Sun. Astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy used a specially modified telescope, taking over 150,000…
The First Images and Videos from the Double Venus Flyby
Two spacecraft made historic flybys of Venus last week, and both sent back sci-fi-type views of the mysterious, cloud-shrouded planet.…
Astronomers Find a Nearby Star That a Spitting Image of a Young Sun
Astronomers have found a young star that is very similar to our Sun, and it could tell us about the…
When the Sun Dies, Earth’s Magnetosphere won’t Provide Protection any More
The Earth’s magnetic field is an underappreciated wonder of the natural world. It protects our atmosphere, provides some of the…
There are Particles of 4.5 Billion-Year-old Solar Wind Trapped Inside the Earth
Scientists have found the unmistakable presence of certain isotopes in an iron meteorite. Since these meteorites are thought to leftover…