Solar Flare
A sudden, intense burst of radiation from the Sun's surface, released when magnetic energy in the corona is explosively reconfigured. The X-rays arrive in minutes and can ionise Earth's upper atmosphere, causing radio blackouts.
Imagery
Major Solar Flare
The Sun erupted with an X8 solar flare, one of the largest of the current solar cycle (Sept.
2017
NASA/GSFC/Solar Dynamics Observatory · NASA media (public domain)
Environment & effects
Knowledge connections
- AffectsEarth
- Observed bySDO (Solar Dynamics Observatory)
- Observed bySOHO (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory)
- Associated withThe Sun
- Associated withNOAA R-Scale (Radio Blackouts)
- Associated withCoronal Mass Ejection (CME)
- Associated withSolar Energetic Particles (SEP)
- Associated withNOAA R-Scale (Radio Blackouts)
- Associated withThe Solar Cycle
- Associated withActive Regions
- Associated withGPS & Navigation
- Associated withHuman Spaceflight
- Associated withRadio Communications
- Associated withNASA DONKI
- Associated withMagnetic Reconnection
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.
- NOAA Solar CalculatorNOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory
Public-domain solar-position geometry: sunrise, sunset, solar noon, twilight, declination, and the equation of time.
Public domain (US Government work).