The moment a giant comet plunged into the Sun and sparked an awe-inspiring flare - 5th Oct 2011

The moment a giant comet plunged into the Sun and sparked an awe-inspiring flare - 5th Oct 2011

It's not Fireworks Night yet - but a spectacular explosion HAS lit up the night sky after a giant comet smashed into the Sun.Our star was hit by an unusually large sungrazer caught on camera careering towards it seven hours before impact.
Then, when the comet hit on Sunday, the Sun was seen letting out an X-class flare that ripped out through space around it.
A clouds of electrons, ions, and atoms burst out through the corona into space lighting it up like a Catherine Wheel.
Scientists expect the cloud - which could disrupt long-range radio communications - to arrive at Earth in the next few days. Read More