Solar activity is ramping up, and a NASA satellite caught the
Sun in action.
From May 3 through May 9, 2024 NASA’s Solar Dynamics
Observatory observed 82 notable solar flares.
This video highlights all flares classified as M5 or higher
during this 7-day period.
Solar flares are giant explosions on the Sun that send
energy, light, and high-speed particles into space.
When strong enough, flares can temporarily affect
communications and navigation systems on Earth.
There were nine X-class flares between May 3-9, 2024,
accounting for over 50% of all X-class flares in 2024 to date.
During this period, the most intense flare occurred on May 6.
X-class flares are the most intense on the flare
classification system; M-class flares are a step below.
These solar flares came from two large sunspot groups - one of
them big enough to see from Earth without magnification.