NASA’s Solar Dynamic Observatory Captures Powerful Solar Flare Event on July 13, 2024

2024-07-16 18:52:29

NASA’s Solar Dynamic Observatory captured this image of the sun – seen as the bright flash on the right – on July 13, 2024. The image shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the hottest material in the flares and is colored yellow . NASA/SDO

On July 13, 2024, the Sun emitted a powerful type X1.2

solar flare

A solar flare is a sudden, rapid and intense eruption of electromagnetic radiation from the Sun’s surface, involving high-energy particles and gas that are heated to millions of degrees and then released into space. These flares occur near sunspots, and are often accompanied by coronal mass ejections (CMEs).

” data-gt-translate-attributes = ” ({ ” attribute = ” ” tabindex = ” 0 ” role = ” link ” > Solar Flarewhich reached its peak at 22:34

EDT

EDT is an abbreviation for Eastern Daylight Time, the time zone for the east coast of the United States and Canada when daylight saving time (spring/summer) is observed. It is four hours behind Coordinated Universal Time. New York City, Washington, DC, Boston, and the Kennedy Space Center are in the Eastern Time Zone (ET).

” data-gt-translate-attributes = “({” attribute=”” tabindex=”0″ role=”link”>EDT. He was caught by me

NASA

NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, is the United States government agency responsible for the nation’s civilian space program and for aeronautical and aerospace research. Established in 1958 by the National Aeronautics and Space Act, NASA leads the US in space exploration efforts, including the Apollo moon landing missions, the Skylab space station, and the Space Shuttle program.

” data-gt-translate-attributes = “({” attribute=”” tabindex=”0″ role=”link”> נאס”אof

Solar Dynamics Observatory

The Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) is a NASA mission launched in February 2010 to study the activity of the Sun and its effects on Earth. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit, SDO continuously monitors the solar atmosphere, capturing high-resolution images across multiple wavelengths. The observatory is equipped with three main instruments: the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI), which studies solar magnetic fields and the solar interior; the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA), which photographs the solar atmosphere in multiple wavelengths to better understand the dynamics and drivers of solar activity; and the Extreme Ultraviolet Variability Experiment (EVE), which measures the sun’s extreme ultraviolet irradiance. SDO data is critical to improving our understanding of solar phenomena such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections and their impact on space weather, which affects satellite operations, communications systems, and even power grids on Earth.

” data-gt-translate-attributes=”({” attribute=”” tabindex=”0″ role=”link”> Solar Dynamics Observatorywhich follows the sun continuously.

Solar flares are intense bursts of radiation that result from the release of magnetic energy associated with sunspots. Flares are our solar system’s largest explosive events and appear as bright areas on the sun. Their energy can reach the earth within minutes and disturb the electromagnetic field.

The classification of solar flares is based on their brightness in the X-ray wavelengths observed by satellites. These classes are classified as A, B, C, M and X, with A being the least and X being the most severe. Each department has a tenfold increase in energy output from the previous one. Within each letter class, there is a finer scale from 1 to 9, which gives more detail on the strength of the flame. For example, the flare X1 is the lowest in its class, but it is still ten times more powerful than the flare M1.

X-class flares are major events that can trigger Earth-wide radio blackouts and long-lasting radiation storms. Monitoring and understanding solar flares is essential to predicting and mitigating their effects on satellite communications, navigation systems and power grids.

This dynamic observatory animation of the Sun above the Earth shows it facing the Sun. SDO is designed to help us understand the Sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the solar atmosphere at small spatial and temporal scales and at many wavelengths simultaneously. Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Laboratory

NASA’s Space Dynamic Observatory (SDO) is a mission dedicated to observing the Sun and helping scientists understand its effects on Earth and near-Earth space. A, whose goal is to develop the scientific understanding necessary to address those aspects of the connected solar-earth system that directly affect life and society.

The main goal of SDO is to study the solar atmosphere at small spatial and temporal scales and at many wavelengths simultaneously. The observatory is equipped with a suite of instruments that provide observations leading to a more complete understanding of the solar dynamics that drive variation in Earth’s environment. These instruments include the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA), which takes images of the solar atmosphere at multiple wavelengths to link surface changes to internal changes. The Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) maps the magnetic fields of the Sun and its peers beneath the Sun’s opaque surface using helioseism. The Ultraviolet Variability Experiment (EVE) measures the sun’s ultraviolet output, which is a major factor in space weather.

By continuously observing the Sun at high resolution and across multiple wavelengths, SDO provides insights into solar activities such as solar flares, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and other phenomena that can have profound effects on Earth. This continuous monitoring is essential to advance our understanding of the complex and dynamic behavior of the Sun.