Eight hours later, on July 19, the same region flared again. This time the flux rope's connection to the sun was severed, and the magnetic fields escaped into space, dragging billions of tons of solar material along for the ride — a classic CME.
More than just gorgeous to see, such direct observation offers one case study on how this crucial kernel at the heart of a CME forms. Such flux ropes have been seen in images of CMEs as they fly away from the sun, but it's never been known — indeed, has been strongly debated — whether the flux rope formed before or in conjunction with a CME's launch. This case shows a clear-cut example of the flux rope forming ahead of time.
Watch this video on YouTube.", "items": [], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 347028, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11180/#media_group_347028", "widget": "Video player", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Solar scientists have long known that at the heart of the great explosions of solar material that shoot off the sun — known as coronal mass ejections or CMEs — lies a twisted kink of magnetic fields known as a flux rope. But no one has known when or where they form. Now, for the first time, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory as captured a flux rope in the very act of formation.
For complete transcript, click here.", "items": [ { "id": 313102, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468887, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/Flux_Rope_Still_3.jpg", "filename": "Flux_Rope_Still_3.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Solar scientists have long known that at the heart of the great explosions of solar material that shoot off the sun — known as coronal mass ejections or CMEs — lies a twisted kink of magnetic fields known as a flux rope. But no one has known when or where they form. Now, for the first time, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory as captured a flux rope in the very act of formation.For complete transcript, click here.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } }, { "id": 313099, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468876, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/Flux_Rope_Still_3_web.jpg", "filename": "Flux_Rope_Still_3_web.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Solar scientists have long known that at the heart of the great explosions of solar material that shoot off the sun — known as coronal mass ejections or CMEs — lies a twisted kink of magnetic fields known as a flux rope. But no one has known when or where they form. Now, for the first time, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory as captured a flux rope in the very act of formation.For complete transcript, click here.", "width": 320, "height": 180, "pixels": 57600 } }, { "id": 313100, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468877, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/Flux_Rope_Still_3_thm.png", "filename": "Flux_Rope_Still_3_thm.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Solar scientists have long known that at the heart of the great explosions of solar material that shoot off the sun — known as coronal mass ejections or CMEs — lies a twisted kink of magnetic fields known as a flux rope. But no one has known when or where they form. Now, for the first time, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory as captured a flux rope in the very act of formation.For complete transcript, click here.", "width": 80, "height": 40, "pixels": 3200 } }, { "id": 313087, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468872, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/11180_Flux_Ropes_ProRes_1280x720_59.94.mov", "filename": "11180_Flux_Ropes_ProRes_1280x720_59.94.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Solar scientists have long known that at the heart of the great explosions of solar material that shoot off the sun — known as coronal mass ejections or CMEs — lies a twisted kink of magnetic fields known as a flux rope. But no one has known when or where they form. Now, for the first time, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory as captured a flux rope in the very act of formation.For complete transcript, click here.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } }, { "id": 313088, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468884, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/11180_Flux_Ropes_H264_Best_1280x720_59.94.mov", "filename": "11180_Flux_Ropes_H264_Best_1280x720_59.94.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Solar scientists have long known that at the heart of the great explosions of solar material that shoot off the sun — known as coronal mass ejections or CMEs — lies a twisted kink of magnetic fields known as a flux rope. But no one has known when or where they form. Now, for the first time, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory as captured a flux rope in the very act of formation.For complete transcript, click here.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } }, { "id": 313089, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468874, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/11180_Flux_Ropes_H264_Good_1280x720_29.97.mov", "filename": "11180_Flux_Ropes_H264_Good_1280x720_29.97.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Solar scientists have long known that at the heart of the great explosions of solar material that shoot off the sun — known as coronal mass ejections or CMEs — lies a twisted kink of magnetic fields known as a flux rope. But no one has known when or where they form. Now, for the first time, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory as captured a flux rope in the very act of formation.For complete transcript, click here.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } }, { "id": 313090, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468885, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/11180_Flux_Ropes_MPEG4_1280X720_29.97.mp4", "filename": "11180_Flux_Ropes_MPEG4_1280X720_29.97.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Solar scientists have long known that at the heart of the great explosions of solar material that shoot off the sun — known as coronal mass ejections or CMEs — lies a twisted kink of magnetic fields known as a flux rope. But no one has known when or where they form. Now, for the first time, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory as captured a flux rope in the very act of formation.For complete transcript, click here.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } }, { "id": 313091, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468878, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/G2015-015_SDO_Flux_Ropes_FINAL_youtube_hq.mov", "filename": "G2015-015_SDO_Flux_Ropes_FINAL_youtube_hq.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Solar scientists have long known that at the heart of the great explosions of solar material that shoot off the sun — known as coronal mass ejections or CMEs — lies a twisted kink of magnetic fields known as a flux rope. But no one has known when or where they form. Now, for the first time, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory as captured a flux rope in the very act of formation.For complete transcript, click here.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } }, { "id": 313092, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468879, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/G2015-015_SDO_Flux_Ropes_FINAL_1280x720.wmv", "filename": "G2015-015_SDO_Flux_Ropes_FINAL_1280x720.wmv", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Solar scientists have long known that at the heart of the great explosions of solar material that shoot off the sun — known as coronal mass ejections or CMEs — lies a twisted kink of magnetic fields known as a flux rope. But no one has known when or where they form. Now, for the first time, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory as captured a flux rope in the very act of formation.For complete transcript, click here.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } }, { "id": 313093, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468883, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/G2015-015_SDO_Flux_Ropes_FINAL_appletv.m4v", "filename": "G2015-015_SDO_Flux_Ropes_FINAL_appletv.m4v", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Solar scientists have long known that at the heart of the great explosions of solar material that shoot off the sun — known as coronal mass ejections or CMEs — lies a twisted kink of magnetic fields known as a flux rope. But no one has known when or where they form. Now, for the first time, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory as captured a flux rope in the very act of formation.For complete transcript, click here.", "width": 960, "height": 540, "pixels": 518400 } }, { "id": 313095, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468875, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/11180_Flux_Ropes_H264_1280x720_30.mov", "filename": "11180_Flux_Ropes_H264_1280x720_30.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Solar scientists have long known that at the heart of the great explosions of solar material that shoot off the sun — known as coronal mass ejections or CMEs — lies a twisted kink of magnetic fields known as a flux rope. But no one has known when or where they form. Now, for the first time, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory as captured a flux rope in the very act of formation.For complete transcript, click here.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } }, { "id": 313098, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468873, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/Flux_Rope_Still_3.tif", "filename": "Flux_Rope_Still_3.tif", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Solar scientists have long known that at the heart of the great explosions of solar material that shoot off the sun — known as coronal mass ejections or CMEs — lies a twisted kink of magnetic fields known as a flux rope. But no one has known when or where they form. Now, for the first time, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory as captured a flux rope in the very act of formation.For complete transcript, click here.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } }, { "id": 313101, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468886, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/G2015-015_SDO_Flux_Ropes_FINAL_appletv.webmhd.webm", "filename": "G2015-015_SDO_Flux_Ropes_FINAL_appletv.webmhd.webm", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Solar scientists have long known that at the heart of the great explosions of solar material that shoot off the sun — known as coronal mass ejections or CMEs — lies a twisted kink of magnetic fields known as a flux rope. But no one has known when or where they form. Now, for the first time, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory as captured a flux rope in the very act of formation.For complete transcript, click here.", "width": 960, "height": 540, "pixels": 518400 } }, { "id": 313094, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468880, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/G2015-015_SDO_Flux_Ropes_FINAL.mov", "filename": "G2015-015_SDO_Flux_Ropes_FINAL.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Solar scientists have long known that at the heart of the great explosions of solar material that shoot off the sun — known as coronal mass ejections or CMEs — lies a twisted kink of magnetic fields known as a flux rope. But no one has known when or where they form. Now, for the first time, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory as captured a flux rope in the very act of formation.For complete transcript, click here.", "width": 640, "height": 360, "pixels": 230400 } }, { "id": 313096, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468881, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/G2015-015_SDO_Flux_Ropes_FINAL_ipod_lg.m4v", "filename": "G2015-015_SDO_Flux_Ropes_FINAL_ipod_lg.m4v", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Solar scientists have long known that at the heart of the great explosions of solar material that shoot off the sun — known as coronal mass ejections or CMEs — lies a twisted kink of magnetic fields known as a flux rope. But no one has known when or where they form. Now, for the first time, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory as captured a flux rope in the very act of formation.For complete transcript, click here.", "width": 640, "height": 360, "pixels": 230400 } }, { "id": 313097, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468882, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/G2015-015_SDO_Flux_Ropes_FINAL_ipod_sm.mp4", "filename": "G2015-015_SDO_Flux_Ropes_FINAL_ipod_sm.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Solar scientists have long known that at the heart of the great explosions of solar material that shoot off the sun — known as coronal mass ejections or CMEs — lies a twisted kink of magnetic fields known as a flux rope. But no one has known when or where they form. Now, for the first time, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory as captured a flux rope in the very act of formation.For complete transcript, click here.", "width": 320, "height": 240, "pixels": 76800 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 347029, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11180/#media_group_347029", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "SDO AIA 131 angstrom standard coloration view of early flux ropes.", "items": [ { "id": 313105, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468890, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/Flux_Rope_Still_9.jpg", "filename": "Flux_Rope_Still_9.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "SDO AIA 131 angstrom standard coloration view of early flux ropes.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } }, { "id": 313104, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468889, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/Flux_Rope_Still_9_web.jpg", "filename": "Flux_Rope_Still_9_web.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "SDO AIA 131 angstrom standard coloration view of early flux ropes.", "width": 320, "height": 180, "pixels": 57600 } }, { "id": 313103, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468888, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/Flux_Rope_Still_9.tif", "filename": "Flux_Rope_Still_9.tif", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "SDO AIA 131 angstrom standard coloration view of early flux ropes.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 347030, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11180/#media_group_347030", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "SDO AIA 131 angstrom standard coloration view of flux ropes during CME.", "items": [ { "id": 313108, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468893, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/Flux_Rope_Still_8.jpg", "filename": "Flux_Rope_Still_8.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "SDO AIA 131 angstrom standard coloration view of flux ropes during CME.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } }, { "id": 313107, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468892, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/Flux_Rope_Still_8_web.jpg", "filename": "Flux_Rope_Still_8_web.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "SDO AIA 131 angstrom standard coloration view of flux ropes during CME.", "width": 320, "height": 180, "pixels": 57600 } }, { "id": 313106, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468891, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/Flux_Rope_Still_8.tif", "filename": "Flux_Rope_Still_8.tif", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "SDO AIA 131 angstrom standard coloration view of flux ropes during CME.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 347031, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11180/#media_group_347031", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "SDO AIA 131 and 171 subtraction blended image of early flux ropes.", "items": [ { "id": 313111, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468896, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/Flux_Rope_Still_4.jpg", "filename": "Flux_Rope_Still_4.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "SDO AIA 131 and 171 subtraction blended image of early flux ropes.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } }, { "id": 313110, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468895, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/Flux_Rope_Still_4_web.jpg", "filename": "Flux_Rope_Still_4_web.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "SDO AIA 131 and 171 subtraction blended image of early flux ropes.", "width": 320, "height": 180, "pixels": 57600 } }, { "id": 313109, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468894, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/Flux_Rope_Still_4.tif", "filename": "Flux_Rope_Still_4.tif", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "SDO AIA 131 and 171 subtraction blended image of early flux ropes.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 347032, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11180/#media_group_347032", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "SDO AIA 131 hue-shifted image of flux ropes during CME.", "items": [ { "id": 313114, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468899, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/Flux_Rope_Still_7.jpg", "filename": "Flux_Rope_Still_7.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "SDO AIA 131 hue-shifted image of flux ropes during CME.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } }, { "id": 313113, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468898, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/Flux_Rope_Still_7_web.jpg", "filename": "Flux_Rope_Still_7_web.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "SDO AIA 131 hue-shifted image of flux ropes during CME.", "width": 320, "height": 180, "pixels": 57600 } }, { "id": 313112, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468897, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/Flux_Rope_Still_7.tif", "filename": "Flux_Rope_Still_7.tif", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "SDO AIA 131 hue-shifted image of flux ropes during CME.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 347033, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11180/#media_group_347033", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "SDO AIA 131 and 171 difference blended image of flux ropes during CME.", "items": [ { "id": 313117, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468902, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/Flux_Rope_Still_1.jpg", "filename": "Flux_Rope_Still_1.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "SDO AIA 131 and 171 difference blended image of flux ropes during CME.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } }, { "id": 313116, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468901, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/Flux_Rope_Still_1_web.jpg", "filename": "Flux_Rope_Still_1_web.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "SDO AIA 131 and 171 difference blended image of flux ropes during CME.", "width": 320, "height": 180, "pixels": 57600 } }, { "id": 313115, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468900, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/Flux_Rope_Still_1.tif", "filename": "Flux_Rope_Still_1.tif", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "SDO AIA 131 and 171 difference blended image of flux ropes during CME.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 347034, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11180/#media_group_347034", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "SDO AIA 131 and 171 difference blended image of early flux ropes.", "items": [ { "id": 313120, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468905, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/Flux_Rope_Still_2.jpg", "filename": "Flux_Rope_Still_2.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "SDO AIA 131 and 171 difference blended image of early flux ropes.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } }, { "id": 313119, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468904, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/Flux_Rope_Still_2_web.jpg", "filename": "Flux_Rope_Still_2_web.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "SDO AIA 131 and 171 difference blended image of early flux ropes.", "width": 320, "height": 180, "pixels": 57600 } }, { "id": 313118, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468903, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/Flux_Rope_Still_2.tif", "filename": "Flux_Rope_Still_2.tif", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "SDO AIA 131 and 171 difference blended image of early flux ropes.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 347035, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11180/#media_group_347035", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "The image on the left shows a series of magnetic loops on the sun, as captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory on July 18, 2012. The image on the right has been processed to highlight the edges of each loop and make the structure more clear. A series of loops such as this is known as a flux rope, and these lie at the heart of eruptions on the sun known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs.) This is the first time scientists were able to discern the timing of a flux rope's formation.", "items": [ { "id": 313122, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468907, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/131-Glowing_Edge_Comparison.jpg", "filename": "131-Glowing_Edge_Comparison.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "The image on the left shows a series of magnetic loops on the sun, as captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory on July 18, 2012. The image on the right has been processed to highlight the edges of each loop and make the structure more clear. A series of loops such as this is known as a flux rope, and these lie at the heart of eruptions on the sun known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs.) This is the first time scientists were able to discern the timing of a flux rope's formation.", "width": 2500, "height": 1000, "pixels": 2500000 } }, { "id": 313123, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468908, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/131-Glowing_Edge_Comparison_web.jpg", "filename": "131-Glowing_Edge_Comparison_web.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "The image on the left shows a series of magnetic loops on the sun, as captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory on July 18, 2012. The image on the right has been processed to highlight the edges of each loop and make the structure more clear. A series of loops such as this is known as a flux rope, and these lie at the heart of eruptions on the sun known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs.) This is the first time scientists were able to discern the timing of a flux rope's formation.", "width": 320, "height": 128, "pixels": 40960 } }, { "id": 313121, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468906, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/131-Glowing_Edge_Comparison.tif", "filename": "131-Glowing_Edge_Comparison.tif", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "The image on the left shows a series of magnetic loops on the sun, as captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory on July 18, 2012. The image on the right has been processed to highlight the edges of each loop and make the structure more clear. A series of loops such as this is known as a flux rope, and these lie at the heart of eruptions on the sun known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs.) This is the first time scientists were able to discern the timing of a flux rope's formation.", "width": 2500, "height": 1000, "pixels": 2500000 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 347036, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11180/#media_group_347036", "widget": "Video player", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Blended 131 and 171 angstrom light view of flux rope formation and eruption.", "items": [ { "id": 313126, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468911, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/Flux_Rope_Movie_1_Still.png", "filename": "Flux_Rope_Movie_1_Still.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Blended 131 and 171 angstrom light view of flux rope formation and eruption.", "width": 897, "height": 961, "pixels": 862017 } }, { "id": 313127, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468912, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/Flux_Rope_Movie_1_Still_web.png", "filename": "Flux_Rope_Movie_1_Still_web.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Blended 131 and 171 angstrom light view of flux rope formation and eruption.", "width": 320, "height": 342, "pixels": 109440 } }, { "id": 313124, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468909, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/flux_rope_movie_1.mp4", "filename": "flux_rope_movie_1.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Blended 131 and 171 angstrom light view of flux rope formation and eruption.", "width": 897, "height": 960, "pixels": 861120 } }, { "id": 313125, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468910, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/flux_rope_movie_1-Apple_ProRes_422.mov", "filename": "flux_rope_movie_1-Apple_ProRes_422.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Blended 131 and 171 angstrom light view of flux rope formation and eruption.", "width": 897, "height": 960, "pixels": 861120 } }, { "id": 313128, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468913, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/flux_rope_movie_1.webmhd.webm", "filename": "flux_rope_movie_1.webmhd.webm", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Blended 131 and 171 angstrom light view of flux rope formation and eruption.", "width": 960, "height": 540, "pixels": 518400 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 347037, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11180/#media_group_347037", "widget": "Video player", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "131 only view of flux rope formation and eruption.", "items": [ { "id": 313129, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468914, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/Movie_1_Still.png", "filename": "Movie_1_Still.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "131 only view of flux rope formation and eruption.", "width": 600, "height": 601, "pixels": 360600 } }, { "id": 313132, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468917, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/Movie_1_Still_web.png", "filename": "Movie_1_Still_web.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "131 only view of flux rope formation and eruption.", "width": 320, "height": 320, "pixels": 102400 } }, { "id": 313130, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468915, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/movie1-Apple_ProRes_422.mov", "filename": "movie1-Apple_ProRes_422.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "131 only view of flux rope formation and eruption.", "width": 600, "height": 600, "pixels": 360000 } }, { "id": 313131, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468916, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/movie1.mp4", "filename": "movie1.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "131 only view of flux rope formation and eruption.", "width": 600, "height": 600, "pixels": 360000 } }, { "id": 313133, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468918, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/movie1-Apple_ProRes_422.webmhd.webm", "filename": "movie1-Apple_ProRes_422.webmhd.webm", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "131 only view of flux rope formation and eruption.", "width": 960, "height": 540, "pixels": 518400 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 347038, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11180/#media_group_347038", "widget": "Video player", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "High frequency 131 view of flux rope formation.", "items": [ { "id": 313135, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468920, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/Filtered_Still.png", "filename": "Filtered_Still.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "High frequency 131 view of flux rope formation.", "width": 898, "height": 959, "pixels": 861182 } }, { "id": 313137, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468922, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/Filtered_Still_web.png", "filename": "Filtered_Still_web.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "High frequency 131 view of flux rope formation.", "width": 320, "height": 341, "pixels": 109120 } }, { "id": 313134, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468919, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/20120718_131_dwt6-Apple_ProRes_422.mov", "filename": "20120718_131_dwt6-Apple_ProRes_422.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "High frequency 131 view of flux rope formation.", "width": 912, "height": 960, "pixels": 875520 } }, { "id": 313136, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468921, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/20120718_131_dwt6.mov", "filename": "20120718_131_dwt6.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "High frequency 131 view of flux rope formation.", "width": 912, "height": 960, "pixels": 875520 } }, { "id": 313138, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 468923, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011180/20120718_131_dwt6-Apple_ProRes_422.webmhd.webm", "filename": "20120718_131_dwt6-Apple_ProRes_422.webmhd.webm", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "High frequency 131 view of flux rope formation.", "width": 960, "height": 540, "pixels": 518400 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 347039, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11180/#media_group_347039", "widget": "Basic text", "title": "For More Information", "caption": "", "description": "See [http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sdo/news/flux-ropes.html](http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sdo/news/flux-ropes.html)", "items": [], "extra_data": {} } ], "studio": "GMS", "funding_sources": [ "NASA Heliophysics" ], "credits": [ { "role": "Animator", "people": [ { "name": "Tom Bridgman", "employer": "Global Science and Technology, Inc." }, { "name": "Scott Wiessinger", "employer": "USRA" } ] }, { "role": "Video editor", "people": [ { "name": "Scott Wiessinger", "employer": "USRA" } ] }, { "role": "Narrator", "people": [ { "name": "Scott Wiessinger", "employer": "USRA" } ] }, { "role": "Producer", "people": [ { "name": "Scott Wiessinger", "employer": "USRA" } ] }, { "role": "Scientist", "people": [ { "name": "Angelos Vourlidas", "employer": "NRL" } ] }, { "role": "Writer", "people": [ { "name": "Karen Fox", "employer": "ADNET Systems, Inc." }, { "name": "Scott Wiessinger", "employer": "USRA" } ] } ], "missions": [ "SDO" ], "series": [ "Five Years of Solar Dynamics Observatory", "Narrated Movies", "SDO - Edited Features" ], "tapes": [ "SDO Helps Solve Longstanding CME Mystery (Produced by: Robert Crippen)" ], "papers": [], "datasets": [ { "name": "", "common_name": "", "platform": "SDO", "sensor": null, "type": "Other", "organizations": [], "description": "", "credit": "", "url": "http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/", "date_range": null }, { "name": "131 Filter", "common_name": "AIA 131", "platform": "SDO", "sensor": "AIA", "type": "Other", "organizations": [], "description": "", "credit": "", "url": "http://jsoc.stanford.edu/", "date_range": null } ], "nasa_science_categories": [ "Sun" ], "keywords": [ "Corona", "Coronal Mass Ejections", "Earth Science", "Edited Feature", "EUV Imaging", "Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging", "HDTV", "Heliophysics", "Magnetic Fields", "Music", "Narrated", "SDO", "Solar Activity", "Solar Dynamics Observatory", "Solar Flares", "Solar Ultraviolet", "Space Weather", "Sun-earth Interactions" ], "recommended_pages": [], "related": [ { "id": 11187, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11187/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "First Sighting", "description": "On July 18, 2012, scientists were able to watch for the first time the very formation of something they had long theorized was at the heart of many eruptive events on the sun: a flux rope. These magnetic loops form in the sun's atmosphere and are invisible to the naked eye. Using an ultraviolet telescope aboard NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), scientists were able to view these structures as hot plasma traced out their shape just prior to a coronal mass ejection (CME). The observation solved the long-unanswered question whether flux ropes form before or during a CME eruption. Watch the videos to see how a flux rope forms and to learn more about this event. || ", "release_date": "2013-02-28T00:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2023-05-03T13:52:22.025643-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 467711, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011100/a011187/Flux_Rope_Still_3-1024.jpg", "filename": "Flux_Rope_Still_3-1024.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Flux ropes can be seen only in SDO images that show the very hottest material on the sun.", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 } }, { "id": 4027, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4027/", "page_type": "Visualization", "title": "A July 2012 CME from SDO", "description": "On July 18, 2012, a fairly small explosion of light burst off the lower right limb of the sun. Such flares often come with an associated eruption of solar material, known as a coronal mass ejection or CME — but this one did not. Something interesting did happen, however. Magnetic field lines in this area of the sun's atmosphere, the corona, began to twist and kink, generating the hottest solar material — a charged gas called plasma — to trace out the newly-formed slinky shape. The plasma glowed brightly in extreme ultraviolet images from the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) aboard NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and scientists were able to watch for the first time the very formation of something they had long theorized was at the heart of many eruptive events on the sun: a flux rope.Eight hours later, on July 19, the same region flared again. This time the flux rope's connection to the sun was severed, and the magnetic fields escaped into space, dragging billions of tons of solar material along for the ride — a classic CME. || ", "release_date": "2013-01-31T13:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2023-11-14T00:03:48.225044-05:00", "main_image": { "id": 469779, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a004000/a004027/AIA171July2012CME_stand.HD1080i.01000.jpg", "filename": "AIA171July2012CME_stand.HD1080i.01000.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "1080 HD movie of the CME launch in the 171angstrom AIA filter.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 11047, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11047/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "AR1520's Parting Shot: July 19, 2012 M7.7 Flare", "description": "The sun emitted a moderate solar flare on July 19, 2012, beginning at 1:13 AM EDT and peaking at 1:58 AM. Solar flares are gigantic bursts of radiation that cannot pass through Earth's atmosphere to harm humans on the ground, however, when strong enough, they can disrupt the atmosphere and degrade GPS and communications signals.The flare is classified as an M7.7 flare. This means it is weaker than the largest flares, which are classified as X-class. M-class flares can cause brief radio communications blackouts at the poles.Increased numbers of flares are currently quite common, since the sun's standard 11-year activity cycle is ramping up toward solar maximum, which is expected in 2013. It is quite normal for there to be many flares a day during the sun's peak activity. || ", "release_date": "2012-07-19T10:00:00-04:00", "update_date": "2023-05-03T13:52:55.290673-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 474021, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011000/a011047/July_19_Flare_triptych-half_size.jpg", "filename": "July_19_Flare_triptych-half_size.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Video showing the flare in 304 and 335 angstrom light. Still showing the flare in 304, 131 and 335 angstrom light.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } } ], "sources": [], "products": [], "newer_versions": [], "older_versions": [], "alternate_versions": [] }