Show Sun Bursts Clouds of energized gas some 20 to AO times the size of Earth have been observed blasting away from the surface of the SCIENTISTS estimate that energy released in this solar eruption represents the equivalent power required to supply the total electrical needs nf the entire United at the current rale of for more than n million The historic observation was made by white light developed by the Naval Research Laboratory and flown aboard the National Aeronautics and Orbiting Solar Observatory EVEN though solar event dissipated in outer some effects of it were recorded on noise burst signals heard in the and Although radio telescope observations of Um Sun have such explosive events the actual plasma ejection through the corona had never been seen The has given science an immensely improved capability to observe directly the and paths of these enabling project investigators lo predict quite accurately the timing and character of effects lo he expected on Earth whenever these emissions are on an Earth-bound THESE solar eruptions are important among other result in disruption lo long-range communications and They are also believed to produce hazardous conditions nol only for astronauts but also for travelers in high altitude aircraft |