Sun Releases X3.3 Flare on February 9, 2024
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare – as seen in the bright flash on the lower right – on Feb. 9, 2024. The image shows a blend of 171 Angstrom and 131 Angstrom light, subsets of extreme ultraviolet light that highlight the plasma loops in the corona and the extremely hot material in flares, respectively. Credit: NASA/SDO
The Sun emitted a strong solar flare, peaking at 8:14 a.m. EST, on Feb. 9, 2024. 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 X3.3 flare. X-class denotes the most intense flares, while the number provides more information about its strength.
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare – as seen in the bright flash on the lower right – on Feb. 9, 2024. The image shows a blend of 171 Angstrom and 131 Angstrom light, subsets of extreme ultraviolet light that highlight the plasma loops in the corona and the extremely hot material in flares, respectively. Credit: NASA/SDO
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this imagery of an X3.3 solar flare on Feb. 9, 2024. This multipanel image sequence shows the eruption of hot material that preceeded the flare. It uses a blend two extreme ultraviolet wavelengths – 171 Angstrom, colored yellow; and 131 Angstrom light, colored blue – that highlight the plasma loops in the corona and the extremely hot material in flares, respectively. Credit: NASA/SDO
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this imagery of a solar flare – as seen in the bright flash on the lower right – on Feb. 9, 2024. The footage shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares, and which is colorized in teal. Credit: NASA/SDO
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare – as seen in the bright flash on the lower right – on Feb. 9, 2024. The image shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares, and which is colorized in teal. Credit: NASA/SDO
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of the Sun on Feb. 9, 2024. The image shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the loops of hot plasma in the solar corona, and which is colorized in yellow. Credit: NASA/SDO
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare – as seen in the bright flash on the lower right – on Feb. 9, 2024. The image shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares, and which is colorized in teal. Credit: NASA/SDO
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of the Sun on Feb. 9, 2024. The image shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the loops of hot plasma in the solar corona, and which is colorized in yellow. Credit: NASA/SDO
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this imagery of a solar flare – as seen in the bright flash on the lower right – on Feb. 9, 2024. The footage shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares, and which is colorized in teal. Credit: NASA/SDO
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this imagery of a solar flare – as seen in the bright flash on the lower right – on Feb. 9, 2024. The footage shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights loops of plasma in the corona, and which is colorized in gold. Credit: NASA/SDO
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Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. However, individual items should be credited as indicated above.
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Release date
This page was originally published on Friday, February 9, 2024.
This page was last updated on Tuesday, February 13, 2024 at 10:20 AM EST.