![](\"http:\/\/www.esa.int\/var\/esa\/storage\/images\/esa_multimedia\/images\/2014\/02\/proba-2_view_of_post-eruptive_loops_on_sun\/14286211-1-eng-GB\/Proba-2_view_of_post-eruptive_loops_on_Sun_small.jpg\")
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\nESA\u2019s Sun-watching Proba-2 minisatellite shows the aftermath of 18 February\u2019s \u2018coronal mass ejection\u2019. \n<\/p>\n
\nAcquired at 0445 GMT, a little more than three hours after the initial eruption, the image demonstrates the Sun\u2019s magnetic field reconnecting in the form of loops. Look down and left of the centre of the solar disc to clearly see this distinctive belt of loops.\n<\/p>\n
\nCoronal mass ejections are powered by energy stored in the magnetic field of the Sun\u2019s corona. This energy that can be released by the process of reconnection, in which oppositely oriented field lines are reconfigured to a more relaxed state and stored magnetic energy is converted into the heat and kinetic energy needed to drive huge outward eruptions.\n<\/p>\n
\nFields that have recently reconnected are heated to many millions of degrees, then cooling to the one million degree temperatures that are visible to Proba-2\u2019s SWAP imager. A second Proba-2<\/a> sensor, LYRA, measures the Sun\u2019s energy intensity at the same time. Both instruments are operated for ESA by the Royal Observatory of Belgium<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n \nTo see a movie of the 18 February CME and its aftermath, click here<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n \nAll the latest solar images from ESA and NASA are fed to the Helioviewer website, where you can make your own images and animations \u2013 see here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \t\t\t\t\t \nESA\u2019s Sun-watching Proba-2 minisatellite shows the aftermath of 18 February\u2019s \u2018coronal mass ejection\u2019. \n<\/p>\n \nAcquired at 0445 GMT, a little more than three hours after the initial eruption, the image demonstrates the Sun\u2019s magnetic field reconnecting in the form of loops. Look down and left of the centre of the solar disc to clearly see this distinctive belt of loops.\n<\/p>\n \nCoronal mass ejections are powered by energy stored in the magnetic field of the Sun\u2019s corona. This energy that can be released by the process of reconnection, in which oppositely oriented field lines are reconfigured to a more relaxed state and stored magnetic energy is converted into the heat and kinetic energy needed to drive huge outward eruptions.\n<\/p>\n \nFields that have recently reconnected are heated to many millions of degrees, then cooling to the one million degree temperatures that are visible to Proba-2\u2019s SWAP imager. A second Proba-2<\/a> sensor, LYRA, measures the Sun\u2019s energy intensity at the same time. Both instruments are operated for ESA by the Royal Observatory of Belgium<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n \nTo see a movie of the 18 February CME and its aftermath, click here<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n