[Regnum] A mysterious optical object above the surface of the Sun, resembling a bird, was captured on a photo by the LASCO space telescope. The unusual phenomenon existed for less than 20 minutes, according to a report on the website of the Solar Astronomy Laboratory of the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Experts clarified that the optical image was taken on May 24 at 10:00 UTC (13:00 Moscow time). The object was not present in the previous and subsequent images taken ten minutes earlier and ten minutes later.
"The image seems to clearly show a 'bird' or 'flying craft' with a 'flaming trail' trailing behind it. The 'bird's' wing is about 150,000 km long. The 'flight' altitude above the surface of the Sun is about 2 million km," the report says.
If the "bird" is considered a physical rather than an optical object, it would be more than 10 times the size of the Earth, the astronomers added.
They emphasized that images of such structures are very rare, and invited those who wish to explain the observed phenomenon from a scientific point of view. The scientists joked that as an exception they are ready to consider absolutely any versions, including "aliens, plasma life and conspiracy theories."
As reported by the Regnum news agency, on May 25, a flare of the highest X class was recorded on the Sun, which lasted 17 minutes. Experts warned about the deterioration of HF radio communication conditions at certain hours until the end of the day.
Geophysicist and leading researcher at the Schmidt Institute of Physics of the Earth of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexander Zhigalin told the agency that the scale of the flare in the information space was exaggerated; in reality, it was an ordinary strong flare. Its effect will be reflected on Earth, but only after some time - in about five to eight days, the planet's geomagnetic field will be disturbed, the specialist said.
