By NASA
January 21, 2022
NASAs Solar Dynamics Observatory caught this image of a solar flare– as seen in the intense flash on the right side of this image of the Sun– on January 20. The image from SDOs Atmospheric Imaging Assembly 131 Ångström channel (colorized in teal) shows a subset of severe ultraviolet light that highlights the incredibly hot material in flares. Credit: NASA/SDO
The Sun gave off a mid-level solar flare on January 20, 2022, peaking at 1:01 a.m. EST. NASAs Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, recorded an image of the event.
Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy. Flares and solar eruptions can affect radio interactions, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts.
A zoom in on the flaring area. Credit: NASA/SDO
This flare is classified as a M5.5 class flare. More information on how flares are classified here.
To see how such area weather may affect Earth, please go to NOAAs Space Weather Prediction Center, the U.S. federal governments official source for area weather condition forecasts, watches, cautions, and notifies. NASA works as a research study arm of the countrys space weather condition effort. NASA observes the Sun and our space environment continuously with a fleet of spacecraft that study whatever from the Suns activity to the solar environment, and to the particles and magnetic fields in the space surrounding Earth.
NASAs Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded this image of a solar flare– as seen in the intense flash on the ideal side of this image of the Sun– on January 20. The image from SDOs Atmospheric Imaging Assembly 131 Ångström channel (colorized in teal) shows a subset of severe ultraviolet light that highlights the very hot product in flares. NASA observes the Sun and our area environment continuously with a fleet of spacecraft that study whatever from the Suns activity to the solar atmosphere, and to the particles and magnetic fields in the space surrounding Earth.