The twisted magnetic fields can snap back and explode, powering solar flares and coronal mass ejections.

BBC: Sun, Trace

Flares are associated with huge eruptions of matter from the Sun's atmosphere - known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs).

BBC: Four colossal Sun flares in 48 hours

Very large coronal mass ejections are thought to happen every 500 years or so (the most recent was in 1859).

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Astronauts would also be bombarded with solar energetic particles, which get accelerated close to the sun as a result of solar flares and coronal mass ejections that shoot portions of the sun into space.

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