solar flares

Latest about solar flares

The sun launched a strong X-class flare toward EarthApril 20, 2022.

Large solar flare blasts toward Earth, causing radio blackouts

By Elizabeth Howell published

For the second time in days, the sun hurled a large, X-class flare at Earth, causing radio blackouts and the potential for auroras.

The Sun
The two massive sunspot groups, known as AR 2993 and AR 2994, became visible a few days ago at the northeast limb of the sun after becoming active while still hidden by the sun's disk.

New swarms of sunspots are so gigantic they could devour Earth whole

By Tom Metcalfe published

Two immense swarms of sunspots have popped into view on the surface of the sun, hinting at the increased possibilities of vivid auroras and potentially damaging solar flares over the months to come.

The Sun
This colorized image captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory space telescope shows a powerful solar flare blasting from the sun on March 31, 2022.

The sun let out another flare and the photos are stunning

By Tereza Pultarova published

NASA captured another solar flare blasting from the same overactive sunspot that triggered radio blackouts and stunning aurora displays on Earth.

The Sun
On the upper left side of this image from May 29, 2020, from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory — shown here in the 171-angstrom wavelength, which is typically colorized in gold — one can see a spot of light hovering above the left horizon. This light emanates from solar material tracing out magnetic field lines that are hovering over a set of sunspots about to rotate over the left limb of the sun.

Sun unleashes biggest flare since 2017. Is our star waking up?

By Mike Wall published

Friday morning, our star fired off its strongest flare since October 2017, an eruption spotted by NASA's sun-watching Solar Dynamics Observatory.

The Sun
The instruments on NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory can reveal the intense magnetic fields generated by the sun that tangle as it rotates.

First New Sunspots in 40 Days Herald Coming Solar Cycle

By Tom Metcalfe published

Two new sunspots have ended a long period of relative quiet on the surface of our blazing host star, heralding the start of a new 11-year cycle of sunspot activity.

The Sun
As a teenager, Juan Valderrama y Aguilar drew this tadpole-shaped white solar flare he saw on Sept. 10, 1886, with the outer part (penumbra) of the sunspot shown with hashed lines and the umbra, or central region, shown in black.

Teen Astronomer's 1886 Sketch Reveals Rare White Solar Flare

By Stephanie Pappas published

An old sketch reveals a rare solar phenomenon.

Human Behavior
A little girl stands next to a sperm whale that died after becoming stranded on a beach between Old Hunstanton and Holme on Feb. 5, 2016, in Hunstanton, England. The whale was the 29th to have died after beaching in Europe over a two-week period.

Solar Flares May Explain Mass Whale Stranding

By Stephanie Pappas published

Solar storms in 2016 may have scrambled the magnetic field sperm whales use to navigate.

Whales
A massive, X9.3-class solar flare blasted from the sun at 8:02 a.m. EDT (1202 GMT).

Storm Warning: Solar Outburst Could Scramble Earth's Communications

By Stephanie Pappas published

A solar flare and potential coronal mass ejection could black out some communications.

Weather
As the moon began to eclipse the sun on Aug. 21, 2017, a few sunspots were visible on the solar surface.

Totally Active: Eclipse Photos Reveal Sunspots, Solar Flares

By Stephanie Pappas published

Shots of the solar eclipse reveal an active sun.

The Sun
Proxima B Concept

Extinction-Level Superflares May Blast Earth's Nearest Exoplanet Proxima b

By Livescience.com published

Exoplanets
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