In today's image, we see a computer simulator of a powerful coronal mass ejection striking Earth's magnetic field. A strong enough CME could push the Earth's magnetic field below the orbits of communications satellites leaving them open to potential damage.

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This Podcast is an authorized New Media Mirror Site for APOD. You can access the image and website directly at: Astronomy Picture of the Day. You can use the archive link below the image to select the photo corresponding to the date of this podcast.

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