The Sun, often considered quiet, actually produces extraordinary energy, equivalent to 100 billion nuclear bombs every second, and frequently emits magnetized plasma. However, an extraordinary event occurred in August 2025—a Type IV radio burst that lasted for an unprecedented 19 days, nearly four times longer than the previous record of five days. This event prompted a collaborative analysis from four spacecraft: NASA’s STEREO, Parker Solar Probe, Wind Mission, and ESA/NASA’s Solar Orbiter, which worked together to observe the burst as the Sun rotated.
The analysis revealed that the radio bursts originated from large magnetic structures known as helmet streamers, which were energized by a series of rapid coronal mass ejections. Understanding these long-lasting bursts is vital for enhancing space weather forecasting, crucial for protecting satellites and infrastructure from potential solar dangers. A paper detailing this remarkable radio burst has been published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
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