Various events happening on the Sun and its atmosphere are the main source of space weather.

 

To show the dynamic structure of the Sun, we used chenille wire that was curved into small spirals. The same material was used to show how coronal mass ejection evolves. It can start as a prominence – a loop that can detach and be released into the space. Coronal mass ejections can also produce solar energetic particles that are envisioned on the tactile image as thick beads.

 

The reason for using thick beads is that solar energetic particles are not the only particles that flow from the Sun. Constantly, solar wind flows outwards from the Sun.

There are two types of solar wind: slow one that is envisioned here by small and short particles, and fast solar wind that is envisioned as long beads. The small short beads (slow solar beads) flow from the equatorial regions of the Sun, while the long beads (fast solar wind) flow from polar regions.

 

This is the case when the Sun is  not in maximum of its solar activity. On the other hand, solar flares that are typical in Sun’s maximum, are envisioned by different glitters. We used two types of glitters for two different radiation: UV and X-ray. Also, thick beads accompany the glitters, as solar energetic particles can accompany solar flares.