Classic CME Observed (November 25, 2009)

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The STEREO Ahead spacecraft observed a "classically shaped", bulbous coronal mass ejection (CME) on Nov. 21, 2009. As the bright, outer edge of the CME expands outwards, it almost looks like the Sun is blowing up a balloon. The first CME is followed by smaller CME events that blow even more particles out to the left and the right. In this coronagraph, the Sun is represented by the white circle. The black occulting disk blocks out the Sun and part of its inner atmosphere or corona to reveal faint structures beyond the Sun.

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.