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Telescope Spots Solar Tsunami

Posted by Zonk on from the could-even-silver-surfer-have-ridden-that-wave dept.

scdeimos writes "The prototype of a new solar patrol telescope in New Mexico recorded a tsunami-like shock wave rolling across the visible face of the Sun following a major flare event on Wednesday, Dec. 6. The shock wave, known as a Moreton wave, also destroyed or compressed two filaments of cool gas at opposite sides of the solar hemisphere." From the article: "'These large scale 'blast' waves occur infrequently, however, are very powerful. They quickly propagate in a matter of minutes covering the whole Sun, sweeping away filamentary material,' said Dr. K. S. Balasubramaniam. 'It is unusual to see such powerful waves encompassing the whole sun from ground based observatories. Its significance comes from the fact that these waves are occurring near solar minimum, when intense activity is yet to pick up.'"

11 of 76 comments (clear)

  1. Aha! by locokamil · · Score: 3, Funny

    So that's where Disaster Area's stunt ship crash landed...

    1. Re:Aha! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      An non-expanding langston field - that's what you need when you emerge inside a star!

  2. Seriously radical. by CosmeticLobotamy · · Score: 4, Funny

    The shock wave, known as a Moreton wave, also destroyed or compressed two filaments of cool gas at opposite sides of the solar hemisphere.

    It totally sucks. I mean that was some seriously awesome gas it destroyed. I'm so bummed right now.

    1. Re:Seriously radical. by fyoder · · Score: 2, Funny

      No, that's just an ad agency experiment. Check the caption. Looks promising, but clearly a ways to go before they can do multicharacter messages.

      --
      Loose lips lose spit.
    2. Re:Seriously radical. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      No, that's just an ad agency experiment.

      I got it. the symbols are

      "? . / i"

      Is clear that is an ad from Slashdot = i?/. => I ask at slashdot.

      Wooah. Slashdot Solar Ads!! and Google didn't even begin one.

  3. Please donate ... by jfclavette · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... to my solar tsunami relief fund. Wire your money to my Swiss bank account and I'll see that the money be properly used. I have confidence in Slashdot's readers generosity.

    1. Re:Please donate ... by dangitman · · Score: 2, Funny

      I adopted a filament of gas who was a refuge from the tsunami. I urge you all to do likewise and open your hearts and your houses to the victims.

      --
      ... and then they built the supercollider.
  4. Re:Hmmm... by Alien+Being · · Score: 2, Funny

    "How long..."

    Longer than it took someone to imply that he is unfairly judged as a walking disaster.

  5. easy... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    First it turns everybody brown, then it kills them.

  6. stupid nasa by elgatozorbas · · Score: 2, Funny

    Amen, dude! Besides, those nasa guys weren't even smart enough to take the pictures during daytime. The sun is all dark and grey.

  7. Re:Tinfoil Hat by Cerberus7 · · Score: 2, Funny

    I think that speaks volumes about "1337."

    --
    I don't know about you, but my servers run on the power of cotton candy and happy thoughts. -Anonymous Coward