solar flares

Latest about solar flares

A close-up of the sun showing solar surface activity.

Surprise solar storm bashes Earth, with a second wave predicted for Monday

By Jennifer Nalewicki last updated

NOAA reported that a "moderate" solar storm struck Earth over the weekend, and another once could hit today.

The Sun
The sunspot region known as AR3006 has an area of a reversed magnetic polarity near its center, a phenomenon that can result in increased solar flare activity.

Mixed-up sunspot emits powerful solar flare

By Tom Metcalfe published

A mixed-up region of sunspots pointed almost directly at Earth just emitted a major solar flare, which could cause havoc with power grids and communication networks.

The Sun
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare – as seen in the bright flash in the bottom left portion of the image – on May 3, 2022.

Huge solar flare captured in stunning NASA image as it fires off from the sun

By Ben Turner published

A powerful solar flare just erupted from the surface of the sun — and NASA captured stunning footage of it.

The Sun
The sun let off a double solar flare on Monday, April 25, 2022.

Sunspot sends off double flare, as solar activity ramps up

By Stephanie Pappas published

A restless sunspot sent off a double solar flare on Monday (April 25), temporarily disrupting some radio communications in Asia and Australia.

The Sun
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.

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