Question 1
Prominences and solar flares present dangers to astronauts primarily because ________.
◦ they can overheat the spacecraft
◦ they disrupt communications on Earth
◦ they do not pose a danger to astronauts
◦ they pose a radiation danger from X-rays and gamma rays, but primarily from high-energy particle emissions
Question 2
If solar flares pose a danger to orbiting spacecraft and astronauts, how much warning is there for the danger?
◦ There is no warning; the radiation arrives at the same time as the feature is observed because they all travel at the speed of light.
◦ The primary danger is from high energy particles that travel at the speed of the solar wind 500km/s, so there is ample warning of 3-5 days.
◦ The danger is primarily from emission of neutrinos, which move at just below the speed of light; hence the warning is only a few seconds after a feature is observed.
◦ The danger is from high energy particles moving thousands of km per second, so the warning is a few hours.
A nearly motionless individual, alert to danger, will whistle when alarmed to warn other groundhogs
Solar Eclipse
The Formation of the Solar System
The Solar Corona
The Solar Model
Dash Warning Lights: Coolant Temperature Light