In May 2024, our planet was hit by the largest solar storm in 20 years.
This is really stunning.
Solar stormsoccur when the Sun blasts materialincluding particles, energy, and magnetic fieldsinto the solar system.
The two new temporary belts (shown in purple) appeared between two permanent ones.© NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center/Kristen Perrin
They can also create temporary belts of energetic particles, which might damage spacecraft that attempt to cross them.
In comparison, other temporary belts remained for only about four weeks.
Some might stay in this place for a very long time.
An instrument inside NASAs shoebox-shaped CIRBE satellite was essential to the belts discoveryafter the spacecraft came back online.
About time, CIRBE.
We are very proud that our very small [satellite] made such a discovery, he added.
The solar storm disturbed CIRBEs orbit, and scientists consequently de-orbited it in October of last year.
RIP CIRBE, and thank you for your sacrifice.
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