Sun Releases Strong Solar Flare

The Sun emitted a strong solar flare, peaking at 5:20 p.m. ET on Oct. 31, 2024. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, captured an image of the event.

The Sun appears in shades of red with some brighter and darker regions, set against a black background. In the upper left part of the Sun is a bright flash of white, a solar flare.
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare – seen as the bright flash in the upper left – on Oct. 31, 2024. The image shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares and which is colorized in red. Credit: NASA/SDO

Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy. Flares and solar eruptions can impact radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts.

This flare is classified as an X2.0 flare. X-class denotes the most intense flares, while the number provides more information about its strength.

To see how such space weather may affect Earth, please visit NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center https://spaceweather.gov/, the U.S. government’s official source for space weather forecasts, watches, warnings, and alerts. NASA works as a research arm of the nation’s space weather effort. NASA observes the Sun and our space environment constantly with a fleet of spacecraft that study everything from the Sun’s activity to the solar atmosphere, and to the particles and magnetic fields in the space surrounding Earth.

Strong Solar Flare Erupts from Sun

The Sun emitted a strong solar flare, peaking at 3:19 a.m. ET on Oct. 26, 2024. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, captured these images of the event.

A sequence of nine images shows a solar flare in three different wavelengths: blue (131 Angstrom), yellow (171 Angstrom), and red (304 Angstrom). Each row depicts the progression of the flare over time from 2:25 to 3:22 a.m. EDT on 10/26/24.
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured these images of a solar flare — seen as the bright flash in each of the three image panes — on Oct. 26, 2024. The images show three different subsets of extreme ultraviolet light that highlight the extremely hot material in flares and which are colorized in teal, gold, and red. Credit: NASA/SDO

Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy. Flares and solar eruptions can impact radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts.

This flare is classified as an X1.8 class flare. X-class denotes the most intense flares, while the number provides more information about its strength.

To see how such space weather may affect Earth, please visit NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center https://spaceweather.gov/, the U.S. government’s official source for space weather forecasts, watches, warnings, and alerts. NASA works as a research arm of the nation’s space weather effort. NASA observes the Sun and our space environment constantly with a fleet of spacecraft that study everything from the Sun’s activity to the solar atmosphere, and to the particles and magnetic fields in the space surrounding Earth.

Sun Releases Strong Solar Flare

The Sun emitted a strong solar flare, peaking at 11:57 p.m. ET on Oct. 23, 2024. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, captured an image of the event.

A portion of the Sun fills the center, most of the top, and right side of the image. The left of the image is black. The Sun is dark orange with bright yellow areas. From a very bright yellow area, solar material bursts off the Sun, into the area of black space.
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare — seen as the bright flash on the left — on Oct. 23, 2024. The image shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares and which is colorized in orange. Credit: NASA/SDO

Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy. Flares and solar eruptions can impact radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts.

This flare is classified as an X3.3 class flare. X-class denotes the most intense flares, while the number provides more information about its strength.

To see how such space weather may affect Earth, please visit NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center https://spaceweather.gov/, the U.S. government’s official source for space weather forecasts, watches, warnings, and alerts. NASA works as a research arm of the nation’s space weather effort. NASA observes the Sun and our space environment constantly with a fleet of spacecraft that study everything from the Sun’s activity to the solar atmosphere, and to the particles and magnetic fields in the space surrounding Earth.

Strong Solar Flare Erupts from Sun

The Sun emitted a strong solar flare, peaking at 11:47 a.m. ET on Oct. 9, 2024. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, captured an image of the event.

A portion of the Sun, shown in gold. On the far right is a bright white line, where the flare erupted.
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare — seen as the bright flash on the right — on Oct. 9, 2024. The image shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares and which is colorized in gold. Credit: NASA/SDO

Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy. Flares and solar eruptions can impact radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts.

This flare is classified as an X1.4 flare. X-class denotes the most intense flares, while the number provides more information about its strength.

To see how such space weather may affect Earth, please visit NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center https://spaceweather.gov/, the U.S. government’s official source for space weather forecasts, watches, warnings, and alerts. NASA works as a research arm of the nation’s space weather effort. NASA observes the Sun and our space environment constantly with a fleet of spacecraft that study everything from the Sun’s activity to the solar atmosphere, and to the particles and magnetic fields in the space surrounding Earth.

Sun Releases Strong Solar Flare

The Sun emitted a strong solar flare, peaking at 9:56 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, captured an image of the event.

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare — seen as the bright flash in the center of the Sun’s disk — on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. The image shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares and which is colorized in red. Credit: NASA/SDO

Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy. Flares and solar eruptions can impact radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts.

This flare is classified as a X1.8 flare. X-class denotes the most intense flares, while the number provides more information about its strength.

To see how such space weather may affect Earth, please visit NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center https://spaceweather.gov/, the U.S. government’s official source for space weather forecasts, watches, warnings, and alerts. NASA works as a research arm of the nation’s space weather effort. NASA observes the Sun and our space environment constantly with a fleet of spacecraft that study everything from the Sun’s activity to the solar atmosphere, and to the particles and magnetic fields in the space surrounding Earth.

Sun Releases Strong Solar Flare

The Sun emitted a strong solar flare, peaking at 4:59 p.m. ET on October 7, 2024. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, captured an image of the event.

The Sun, shown in shades of gold. It has several dark and bright regions, including a very bright flash of light near the right limb.
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare – seen as the bright flash in the lower right – on October 7, 2024. The image shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares and which is colorized in gold. Credit: NASA/SDO

Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy. Flares and solar eruptions can impact radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts.

This flare is classified as an X1.0 flare. X-class denotes the most intense flares, while the number provides more information about its strength.

To see how such space weather may affect Earth, please visit NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center https://spaceweather.gov/, the U.S. government’s official source for space weather forecasts, watches, warnings, and alerts. NASA works as a research arm of the nation’s space weather effort. NASA observes the Sun and our space environment constantly with a fleet of spacecraft that study everything from the Sun’s activity to the solar atmosphere, and to the particles and magnetic fields in the space surrounding Earth.

Strong Solar Flare Erupts from Sun

The Sun emitted a strong solar flare, peaking at 3:13 p.m. ET on October 7, 2024. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, captured an image of the event.

The Sun appears in shades of teal with some brighter and darker regions, set against a black background. On the far right side of the Sun is a bright flash of white, a solar flare.
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare – seen as the bright flash in the lower right – on October 7, 2024. The image shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares and which is colorized in teal. Credit: NASA/SDO

Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy. Flares and solar eruptions can impact radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts.

This flare is classified as an X2.1 flare. X-class denotes the most intense flares, while the number provides more information about its strength.

To see how such space weather may affect Earth, please visit NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center https://spaceweather.gov/, the U.S. government’s official source for space weather forecasts, watches, warnings, and alerts. NASA works as a research arm of the nation’s space weather effort. NASA observes the Sun and our space environment constantly with a fleet of spacecraft that study everything from the Sun’s activity to the solar atmosphere, and to the particles and magnetic fields in the space surrounding Earth.

Sun Releases Strong Solar Flare

The Sun emitted a strong solar flare, peaking at 8:18 a.m. ET on Oct. 3, 2024. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, captured an image of the event.

The Sun, shown in red and yellow, with several darker red and bright yellow spots. In the middle is a very bright white and yellow burst of energy, with lines going in multiple directions, like a star.
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare — seen as the bright flash in the center – on Oct. 3, 2024. The image shows subsets of extreme ultraviolet light that highlight the extremely hot material in flares and which are colorized in red and gold.
For additional imagery, visit svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14701/.
Credit: NASA/SDO

Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy. Flares and solar eruptions can impact radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts.

This flare is classified as an X9.0 flare. X-class denotes the most intense flares, while the number provides more information about its strength.

To see how such space weather may affect Earth, please visit NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center https://spaceweather.gov/, the U.S. government’s official source for space weather forecasts, watches, warnings, and alerts. NASA works as a research arm of the nation’s space weather effort. NASA observes the Sun and our space environment constantly with a fleet of spacecraft that study everything from the Sun’s activity to the solar atmosphere, and to the particles and magnetic fields in the space surrounding Earth.

Strong Solar Flare Erupts from Sun

The Sun emitted a strong solar flare, peaking at 6:20 p.m. ET on Oct. 1, 2024. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, captured an image of the event.

The Sun appears in orange and red with dark splotches and bright yellow areas, against a black background. In the lower left region of the Sun's face is a bright yellow area, a solar flare.
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare – seen as the bright flash in the lower left – on Oct. 1, 2024. The image shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares and which is colorized in red and orange. Credit: NASA/SDO

Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy. Flares and solar eruptions can impact radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts.

This flare is classified as an X7.1 flare. X-class denotes the most intense flares, while the number provides more information about its strength.

To see how such space weather may affect Earth, please visit NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center https://spaceweather.gov/, the U.S. government’s official source for space weather forecasts, watches, warnings, and alerts. NASA works as a research arm of the nation’s space weather effort. NASA observes the Sun and our space environment constantly with a fleet of spacecraft that study everything from the Sun’s activity to the solar atmosphere, and to the particles and magnetic fields in the space surrounding Earth.