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Birth of a Coronal Mass Ejection
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Birth of a Coronal Mass Ejection

November 27, 2012
On the sun, coronal mass ejections occur when solar magnetic field lines snake around each other, forming the letter "S". Usually, they go past each other. But if they connect, it's like a short circuit. The mid-section breaks loose and drives out a coronal mass ejection. Image credit: NASA/MSFC