Recorded at the Big Bear Solar Observatory

One of the August 1972 solar flares.

In 1972, Apollo astronauts narrowly escaped a potential catastrophe. On August 2 of that year, a large and angry sunspot appeared and began to erupt, over and over again for more than a week, producing a record-setting fusillade of solar proton radiation. Only pure luck saved the day. The eruptions took place during the gap between Apollo 16 and 17 missions, so astronauts missed the storm.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• NASA
• Recorded
• Big
• Bear
• Solar
• Observatory