Imagine the Sun is like a big, hot balloon that occasionally lets out bursts of energy. A solar flare is like when it yells loudly, fast and bright. A coronal mass ejection, or CME, is more like when it throws a heavy ball of stuff into space, slower but much bigger. Both can affect Earth’s space weather, like causing pretty auroras or even messing up satellites.
Examples
- A solar flare is like when the Sun flashes brightly for a few minutes, it can make the sky light up in colors and cause radio signals to go out.
- A coronal mass ejection, or CME, is more like when the Sun throws out a big chunk of hot gas into space, it travels slower but covers more ground.
- Together, they're like two different ways the Sun can cause auroras, one bright and quick, the other slow but powerful.
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See also
- What happens when the Sun gets active?
- What caused the recent solar flares and how do they affect Earth?
- What caused the recent solar flare and its effects on Earth?
- How do solar flares affect Earth and our technology?
- What is Solar Cycle 25?