Strong X1.9 Solar Flare Erupts from Sun | NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory

Strong X1.9 Solar Flare Erupts from Sun | NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory

The Sun emitted a strong solar flare, peaking at 9:26 A.M. ET on July 16, 2024. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, watching the Sun constantly, captured an image of the event. It came  from departing active (sunspot) region 3738. The flare was associated with radio signatures that suggest a coronal mass ejection (CME) was likely associated with this activity, but due to its far southwestern location, an Earth-directed one is not anticipated.

The Sun, shown in gold, against a black background. On the right is a bright white flash, on the limb of the star. The Sun has swirls of bright gold and darker gold regions, and one very large, dark black splotch toward the top called a coronal hole.

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare—seen as the bright flash on the right—on July 16, 2024. The image shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares. It is colorized in gold.

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 X1.9 (R3-Strong) 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 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center: https://spaceweather.gov

NOAA is 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.

Credit: NASA/SDO

Capture Date: July 16, 2024

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