First-ever observation of solar outburst on Earth, moon, and Mars – A study

On October 28, 2021, astronomers had observed a solar eruption that affected Earth, Mars, and the Moon at the same time.

That was the first time such an event was measured on all three celestial bodies.

According to the report published on Thursday in the journal Geographical Research Letters, a ground-breaking solar event was observed simultaneously on the surfaces of Earth, the moon, and Mars.

This marks the first time such an occurrence has been documented.

This rare event, known as a 'ground level enhancement,' occurs when energetic particles from the Sun break through Earth's magnetic field, which normally shields us from less intense solar outbursts.

The report indicates that during these events, solar particles from the Sun possess sufficient energy to penetrate Earth's magnetic bubble, which typically shields us from less energetic solar outbursts.

As stated by the European Space Agency's official Twitter handle, ESA Science has clarified that Mars indeed possesses a thin atmosphere that serves to block the majority of lower energy solar particles and decelerates the highly energetic ones.

This information was shared on their official Twitter page.

☀️☢️👩‍🚀🧑‍🚀 Phew! An international fleet of space missions proved that a widespread solar radiation burst was not dangerous for astronauts
👉 https://t.co/x71LsvYmKA pic.twitter.com/SdfcGVH9kN

— ESA Science (@esascience) August 2, 2023

According to the research, comprehending these solar incidents is critical due to upcoming human exploration missions to the Moon and Mars.

Radiation exposure at high levels, surpassing 700 milligrays, can lead to radiation sickness, presenting symptoms like infections and internal bleeding.

Fortunately, during the solar event in October 2021, astronauts in lunar orbit were only exposed to approximately 31 milligrays, which posed no immediate danger.

The study's co-author, Jingnan Guo, mentioned that they have calculated that, on average, there is one ground-level enhancement event every 5.5 years that may exceed the safe dose level on the Moon if astronauts are not equipped with adequate radiation protection.

This information is vital for designing safe manned missions to the Moon's surface.