spacetoday.net: NASA spacecraft provide 3-D views of solar storms

NASA spacecraft provide 3-D views of solar storms

Posted: Fri, Apr 17, 2009, 7:39 AM ET (1139 GMT)
STEREO 3-D image of CME (NASA)

A pair of NASA spacecraft have given scientists their first three-dimensional look at a power class of solar storms. The twin Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) spacecraft, launched in 2006, are in orbit around the Sun, drifting away from the Earth and each other. The relative positions now allow scientists to obtain three-dimensional views of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) now previously possible from observing such storms from the Earth alone. Scientists added that the #-D imagery should allow additional warning time in the event a CME is directed towards the Earth.