Strong Solar Flare Erupts from Sun on April 30, 2022
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image sequence of an X1.1 solar flare – as seen in the bright flash in the upper right portion of the image – on April 30, 2022. The image is a blend of three wavelengths of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares and which is colorized in red. The three wavelengths are 131 angstrom, 171 angstrom and 304 angstrom. The sequence has a cadence of one image every 15 minutes and covers 8pm EDT April 29th to 8pm EDT April 30th.
Credit: NASA/SDO
The Sun emitted a strong solar flare on April 30, 2022, peaking at 9:47 a.m. EDT. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, captured an image of the event.
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 X-class flare. X-class denotes the most intense flares, while the number provides more information about its strength. More info on how flares are classified can be found here.
To see how such space weather may affect Earth, please visit NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center https://spaceweather.gov/, 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.
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of an X1.1 solar flare – as seen in the bright flash in the upper right portion of the image – on April 30, 2022. The image is a blend of three wavelengths of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares and which is colorized in red. The three wavelengths are 131 angstrom, 171 angstrom and 304 angstrom.
Credit: NASA/SDO
Same as above, cropped to focus on flaring region.
Credit: NASA/SDO
Image of the flare in 131 angstrom light.
Credit: NASA/SDO
Image of the flare in 304 angstrom light.
Credit: NASA/SDO
Image of the flare in 171 angstrom light.
Credit: NASA/SDO
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Credits
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
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- Scott Wiessinger (KBR Wyle Services, LLC)
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Writer
- Abbey A. Interrante (ADNET Systems, Inc.)
Release date
This page was originally published on Monday, May 2, 2022.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 11:44 AM EDT.