Coronal Mass Ejection

The new study found that Earth's magnetosphere and atmosphere rendered the radiation from the event negligible by the time it reached our planet's surface. Mars's surface got about one-30th of the initial dose thanks to buffering effects from its atmosphere. But just over half of the initial dose of radiation from the CME hit the moon's surface. While this particular CME event wasn't strong enough to potentially sicken a human, half of the radiation from a larger outburst could be deadly. Studying where and how CMES hit bodies beyond Earth could help scientists develop the shielding necessary to protect future astronauts.