NASA has recorded a powerful solar flare [video]
![NASA has recorded a powerful solar flare [video]](/media/cache/9c/bd/9cbd7a257d6f9f8d52398d70a61d9100.jpg "NASA has recorded a powerful solar flare [video]")
NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) spacecraft recorded a significant solar flare on Oct. 28, 2021 at 11:35 a.m. EDT. SDO continuously monitors the Sun, and it recorded images of the solar flare as it occurred. A solar flare is a burst of radiation emanating from the Sun. If they are intense enough, they can interrupt Earth's communications with satellites, especially GPS and communications satellites.
The flare that occurred on the 28th was classified as an X1 class flare. X is the most intense class of flashes, whose number gives more information about its intensity. X1 is the least intense of the X class flashes, with each new numerical class being as many times more intense than X1. For example, an X3 flare is three times more intense than X1.
NASA considers flares classified as X10 or stronger to be unusual. The image of the current flare was taken in extreme ultraviolet light. To emphasize the flare in the image, it was subsequently colored.
The #GOES16 Solar Ultraviolet Imager (SUVI) instrument captured a strong solar flare today, seen here at 2 wavelengths. Pretty cool, er -hot! Get @NWSSWPC SUVI data at https://t.co/9Z6HTdJnof @NOAASatellitePA pic.twitter.com/QY4BSWHAHt
- UW-Madison CIMSS (@UWCIMSS) October 28, 2021
Intensely bright solar flare clearly visible in lower half of Sun NASA also posted a tweet showing images at various wavelengths. The animation is very interesting and shows how the Sun is ejecting large amounts of material into space.
