Coronal mass ejection

A coronal mass ejection (CME) is a significant ejection of <a href="/facts/Plasma_(physics)/1d3btMVU">plasma</a> mass from the <a href="/facts/Sun%2527s_corona/W4WNqV9u">Sun's corona</a> into the <a href="/facts/Heliosphere/Yc9ToWbA">heliosphere</a>. CMEs are often associated with <a href="/facts/Solar_flare/6kCvPKxD">solar flares</a> and other forms of <a href="/facts/Solar_activity/28AnjNfE">solar activity</a>, but a broadly accepted theoretical understanding of these relationships has not been established.
If a CME enters <a href="/facts/Interplanetary_space/lnUR4gHd">interplanetary space</a>, it is referred to as an interplanetary coronal mass ejection (ICME). ICMEs are capable of reaching and colliding with <a href="/facts/Earth%2527s_magnetosphere/BXzgPoPy">Earth's magnetosphere</a>, where they can cause <a href="/facts/Geomagnetic_storm/4rD8DSlm">geomagnetic storms</a>, <a href="/facts/Aurorae/6agpj9Qs">aurorae</a>, and in rare cases damage to <a href="/facts/Electrical_power_grid/RkWPqjmG">electrical power grids</a>. The largest recorded geomagnetic perturbation, resulting presumably from a CME, was the <a href="/facts/Solar_storm_of_1859/kVqIFwA2">solar storm of 1859</a>. Also known as the Carrington Event, it disabled parts of the newly created United States <a href="/facts/Electrical_telegraph/yrFhbvM8">telegraph</a> network, starting fires and electrically shocking some telegraph operators.
Near <a href="/facts/Solar_maxima/926z06yc">solar maxima</a>, the Sun produces about three CMEs every day, whereas near <a href="/facts/Solar_minima/29ooEQBD">solar minima</a>, there is about one CME every five days.

Coronal mass ejection open-in-new

Coronal mass ejection