filament eruption

A powerful solar eruption lit up the Sun’s northern hemisphere late on May 12 (early May 13 IST), sending a massive wave of solar material into space. Due to its sheer scale, the eruption, which stretched nearly 600,000 miles (10 lakh kilometres), caught global attention. As the Sun nears the peak of its 11-year activity cycle, such events are expected to happen more often.

The Earth could be hit by a "solar tsunami" anytime now as an unusually complex magnetic eruption on the Sun has flung a large cloud of electrically charged particles towards our planet, scientists have warned.

Recent research using data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Very Large Telescope reveals that black holes are not just passive consumers of matter. They actively contribute to their feeding process by creating turbulence in surrounding gas, leading to cooling and condensation into filaments that both feed the black hole and contribute to star formation.

A rare "super-sympathetic" solar flare event, featuring four simultaneous eruptions, captivates astronomers. These bursts, spanning a third of the solar surface, hint at possible impacts on Earth, including solar storms. If Earth-directed, these storms could disrupt power grids and communication networks, while also offering the spectacle of auroras at unusual latitudes. This event, following a series of earlier flares in 2024, underscores the Sun's dynamic nature and the importance of space weather monitoring.

Scientists from IIA used ground-based optical and radio telescopes, along with data from Nasa's satellites, to trace the source of a solar burst in 2013. The study focused on a prominence eruption associated with a slow CME, triggered by an imbalance of magnetic forces. The research highlighted the importance of studying CMEs and magnetic reconnection in predicting their paths. Simultaneous multiwavelength observations are crucial for unraveling the origin of CMEs, and the solar space observatory Aditya-L1 will soon provide vital data.

A massive coronal hole has opened on the Sun, sending high-speed solar winds towards Earth, potentially causing minor geomagnetic storms. These storms could disrupt radio communications and satellite operations. Forecasters warn of a possible G1-class geomagnetic storm due to a coronal mass ejection, with increased solar activity expected during the current solar maximum.

Meteorological experts are predicting that the northern lights will be visible in certain states in the United States on Tuesday. This rare event is expected due to a geomagnetic storm caused by a coronal mass ejection from the sun. The storm is projected to reach Earth on September 19. Although the exact time is uncertain, it is anticipated to peak between 06:00 and 09:00 UTC. To increase the chances of seeing the northern lights, it is recommended to be in northern regions.

Intense aurora sightings over Ladakh validate Indian astrophysicists' space weather predictions, reflecting heightened solar activity in Solar Cycle 25. Observed by Indian Institute of Astrophysics, these events highlight the potential impact of solar storms on satellite-based services and modern society.

Scientists have for the first time found that a dormant volcano - a supermassive black hole - lying at the heart of our Milky Way galaxy last erupted two million years ago.

The Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) in Ladakh captured stunning images of a rare red-colored aurora on November 5. The aurora, known as a Stable Auroral Arc (SAR), displayed vivid shades of red instead of the more common green and blue curtains of light. The phenomenon was visible from multiple locations around the world and was linked to a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) that occurred on the Sun two days prior.

A strong geomagnetic storm, classified as G3, is anticipated due to recent coronal mass ejections from the sun. This event may cause auroras to be visible in regions further south than usual, potentially reaching as far as Illinois and Oregon. The heightened geomagnetic activity is expected to persist through April 17, offering increased chances for spectacular night skies.

Astronomers have made a breathtaking revelation: The most massive discovered black hole jets, extending on to incredibly 23 million light-years. To look it through that lens, that’s approximately the length of 140 Milky Way galaxies positioned in a straight line. The immense jets, named ‘Porphyrion’ after a mythological Greek giant, emerge from a supermassive black hole at the center of a faraway galaxy that was in existence when the universe was only 6.3 billion years old- - close to half its existing age of 13.8 billion years.

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has captured stunning images of black holes, revealing their energy and interactions with surroundings. These images show supermassive black holes at galaxy centers that occasionally release energy bursts. Such events shape galaxy evolution, controlling star formation. The study of galaxies like NGC 5548 and peculiar galaxies help understand galaxy evolution and dark matter.