Solar Dynamics Observatory

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare – as seen in the bright flash in the upper left of the Sun – on February 22, 2024. The image shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares and which is colorized in bronze. Credit: NASA/SDOOn February 22, 2024, the Sun emitted an extremely strong solar flare. It reached its peak at 5:34 p.m. EST. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, captured an image of the event.This…

A significant solar flare, peaking at 1:53 a.m. EST on February 16, 2024, was observed by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory. Classified as an X2.5, it represents a high-intensity energy burst with potentially disruptive effects on technology and space missions. Credit: NASA/SDOThe Sun emitted a strong solar flare, peaking at 1:53 a.m. EST on Friday, February 16, 2024. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, captured an image of the event.Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy. Flares and…

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare – as seen in the bright flash on the lower right – on Feb. 9, 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/SDOOn February 9, 2024, at precisely 8:14 a.m. EST, the Sun unleashed a significant solar flare, an event meticulously captured by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). This particular flare has been classified as an X3.3,…

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare – as seen in the bright flash on the far left – on December 31, 2023. The image shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares, which is colorized in yellow and orange. Credit: NASA/SDOThe Sun emitted a strong solar flare, peaking at 4:55 p.m. EST, on December 31, 2023. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, captured an image of the event.Solar flares are powerful bursts of…

Earth has been bombarded with solar activity in the last few months. In July, it was revealed that 2023 had already broken a 21-year record for the highest number of sunspots which were even more than initially predicted by scientists. But what does the rising number of sunspots mean? The number of sunspots on the Sun is directly related to the intensity of the solar peak. So, the higher the number of sunspots, the higher the chances of solar storms. Solar storms are caused by coronal mass ejections (CME) particles…

Just recently, it was revealed that Earth could be in the firing line of a solar storm as sigmoid eruption was observed on the surface of the Sun. This eruption hurled out a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) towards Earth, which has the potential to deliver a weak blow to the Earth's magnetic field. However, this isn't the only threat. In a new development, the NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) has tracked a dangerous sunspot and it could hurl an M-class solar flare towards Earth. This is the latest solar phenomenon to…

NASA has a full suite of instruments to measure solar activity that affects Earth. The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory or SOHO is one of the premier instruments that is used by NASA and ESA. Launched in 1995, SOHO is equipped with 12 scientific instruments, such as an Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT), Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI), LASCO (Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph), and others. SOHO captures images of the sun's corona, measures the velocity and magnetic fields of the sun's surface, and…

In the early hours of July 12, a single M-class solar flare was produced by an emerging sunspot on the northeastern limb of the Sun, and it sparked blackouts over the North American continent, as per reports. But since then, as many as 8 different M-class solar flares have been produced by the same region, sunspot AR3372, the NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory has detected. The flares have sparked a rolling series of blackouts all across the Earth. The sunspot appears to be highly reactive and crackling with activity. This…

Earth has been facing a challenging time in terms of solar activity as solar flares, solar storms, prominences, and other phenomena have plagued the planet. This is perhaps due to the approaching Solar Max and the Sun nearing the peak in its solar cycle. In March, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured a video of a solar ‘tornado' erupting from the Sun's surface. While it isn't a rotating tornado like the one which forms on Earth, it was caused by a solar prominence that first began forming on March 14 and then…

While Earth's magnetosphere deflects most solar activity carried by solar events, some charged particles seep through. These energetic particles cause magnetic disturbances, classified as Geomagnetic storms. These supercharged storms can wreak havoc on all forms of wireless communication, including GPS, mobile networks, and satellite communication. Power grids are also susceptible to fluctuations and could potentially sustain irreversible damage.In light of the danger that is posed by geomagnetic storms, forecasters at…