Latest about solar maximum
Sun launches strongest solar flare of current cycle in monster X8.7-class eruption
The strongest solar flare in half a decade just launched off the sun from the same sunspot group that triggered dazzling auroras last weekend. But don't expect northern lights this time around.
'Extreme' geomagnetic storm that painted Earth with auroras this weekend was the most powerful in 21 years
Between Friday (May 10) and Sunday (May 12), people across the world were treated to stunning aurora displays as Earth's magnetic field experienced its biggest disturbance since October 2003. The supercharged storm also messed with satellites and caused power grid irregularities.
Space photo of the week: A planet-size explosion rocks the sun's 'mossy' corona
Coronal moss grows, solar rain falls and plasma eruptions rear their gargantuan heads in this fiery landscape of the sun's outer atmosphere, taken by ESA's Solar Orbiter.
Sun's chaotic peak triggers record-breaking 'global auroras' on Mars
Mars has had frequent planet-wide auroras in recent months, including an unprecedented trio of events in February. Experts say the sudden increase is the result of the ongoing solar maximum.
4 solar flares simultaneously erupt from the sun in rare 'super' explosion — and Earth could be hit by the fallout
In the early hours of Tuesday (April 23), quadruple solar flares near-simultaneously exploded from across the sun's surface, and there's a good chance that one of these outbursts launched a solar storm toward Earth.
No, you didn't see a solar flare during the total eclipse — but you may have seen something just as special
Several media outlets have incorrectly claimed that explosive solar flares were spotted during the April 8 total solar eclipse. But there were no flares during totality, so what did people see?
The sun is surprisingly quiet right now. What does this mean for the April 8 total solar eclipse?
Despite nearing its most active period, the sun is unusually inactive right now and may not wake up again before the total solar eclipse on Monday (April 8). How will this impact our view of the spectacle?
Powerful X-class solar flare slams Earth, triggering radio blackout over the Pacific Ocean
On March 28, Earth was hit by an X-class solar flare that was strong enough to ionize part of the planet's atmosphere.
Earth hit by radiation from rare 'double' X-class solar flare, triggering most powerful geomagnetic storm in 6 years
A recent X-class flare, which was split into two simultaneous explosions, launched a coronal mass ejection that smashed into Earth, triggering the most powerful disruption to our planet's magnetic field for more than six years.
Mercury slammed by gargantuan eruption from the sun's hidden far side, possibly triggering 'X-ray auroras'
A gigantic plasma eruption from the sun's hidden far side recently launched a sizable coronal mass ejection that slammed into Mercury, potentially triggering invisible X-ray auroras around the planet's rocky surface.
