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Originally Posted by Choker
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Hi Choker,
The image that you're looking at is made to show how much energy is leaving the sun, and how it impacts each planet.
The first image is sort of a "top-down" 2D view of the sun and our solar system. When a CME occurs it doesn't blast straight-out from the sun. Instead, it leaves in a curve of sorts as the sun spins on its axis, and a view from this angle is an easy way to display it.
The second image is also a top-down look but it ignores the spin of the sun to show you the energy within the cone of influence as it hits the earth.
The 3rd image is similar to the second image but shows the impact on earth and some other satelites : Stereo B and Stereo A (Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory), the Kepler Space Telescope being used to find new planets. (Named after Johannes Kepler). My guess is that they don't want these to be wiped out.
What I don't quite understand though is the IMF Polarity. I assume they are talking about the sun's magnetic field but you see it wavering around like a string in #2, but the CME changes shape right after hitting the earth so I would guess they want to know how the earths field changes it. Still cool to look at though. Nice find!