+ Visit NASA.gov + Advanced Search   + About the Server   + Animation List   + How to Use the Server   + RSS Feeds   + Podcasts   + Opportunities Previous Animation Next Animation Cannibal CME This sequence of images is from a computer animation illustrating an artist's concept of Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) cannibalism. Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) are clouds of electrified, magnetic gas weighing billions of tons ejected from the Sun and hurled into space with speeds ranging from 12 to 1,250 miles per second (about 20 to 2,000 kilometers per second). The first CME blasts from the right side of the sun (bright, white area), and as it expands into space, it becomes fainter. A second CME erupts from near the same region on the Sun as the first CME, appearing as another bright burst on the right side of the Sun. The second CME is moving faster than the first, and it overtakes and assimilates the first CME in frames four through six. Solar researchers believe cannibal CMEs may be the source of 'complex ejecta' CME clouds; those with a larger and more complex structure than typical CMEs. These traits cause complex ejecta CMEs to trigger protracted magnetic storms when they envelop the Earth.    Two CMEs launched from an active region merge. Duration: 22.0 seconds Available formats:   352x240 (29.97 fps) MPEG-1   4 MB   320x218     JPEG         5 KB   1920x1080 Frames   720x486     Frames (CannibalOne) How to play our movies    Different viewpoint of the CME event. You look down on the CME. Duration: 16.0 seconds Available formats:   720x486     Frames (CannibalTwo)   320x240 (30 fps) MPEG-1   3 MB   640x480 (30 fps) MPEG-1   13 MB   720x480 (30 fps) MPEG-2   15 MB   320x240     PNG           289 KB   1280x720 (29.97 fps) MPEG-2   39 MB   320x240 (30 fps) X-FLV       728 KB How to play our movies    A bright solar flare... Available formats:   1920 x 1080     TIFF 4 MB   160 x 80           PNG       15 KB   320 x 180         JPEG       6 KB   80 x 40             PNG         4 KB    launches a coronal mass ejection... Available formats:   1920 x 1080     TIFF 3 MB   320 x 180         JPEG       7 KB    followed by another... Available formats:   1920 x 1080     TIFF 3 MB   320 x 180         JPEG       5 KB   160 x 80           PNG       47 KB    They meet in space... Available formats:   1920 x 1080     TIFF 2 MB   320 x 180         JPEG       4 KB    and merge into one. Available formats:   1920 x 1080     TIFF 2 MB   320 x 180         JPEG       3 KB Animation Number: 10070 Completed: 2003-03-20 Animator: Walt Feimer (HTSI) (Lead) Series: Solar CME Keywords: SVS >> Coronal Mass Ejection SVS >> HDTV     Please give credit for this item to NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab Back to Top + Privacy Policy and Important Notices + Reproduction Guidelines NASA Official: Content Contact: Curator: