NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), which constantly monitors the Sun, recently captured images of two powerful X-class solar flares. The first of these was classified as X2.8 and peaked at 3:08 am on May 27, 2024. The second, classified as X1.4, peaked at 10:37 ET on May 29, 2024.

Solar flares are intense bursts of radiation that occur on the Sun with the sudden release of magnetic energy stored in the Sun’s atmosphere. They emit energy across the entire electromagnetic spectrum, from radio waves to gamma rays. These bursts can last from minutes to hours and are often accompanied by ejections of solar material known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs).

The strength of solar flares is classified by their brightness in X-rays, as observed by satellites such as the GOES spacecraft. These classes are called A, B, C, M or X; where A is the weakest and X is the strongest. Each grade represents a tenfold increase in power output, and within each grade a finer scale from 1 to 9 is used to provide greater detail. Example:

• Class A flashes They are the smallest, they almost do not affect the Earth.
• Class B torches slightly larger, but still overall insignificant.
• Class C flares are small or medium in size and have little visible impact on the Earth.
• M class flashes It could cause short-term radio blackouts at the poles and small radiation storms that could endanger astronauts.
• Class X flares They are the largest and most powerful flares that can cause planet-wide radio blackouts and long-lasting radiation storms.

A flare classification such as X2.8 indicates an X-class flare with a magnitude of 2.8 on the logarithmic scale used to measure X-rays. This scale is key to understanding and predicting the potential impact of solar flares on space around Earth and the various technologies and systems that may be affected by increased solar radiation.

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) is a mission that aims to study the effects of the Sun on the Earth and the Earth’s environment. Launched on February 11, 2010, SDO is part of NASA’s Living with the Star (LWS) program, which aims to study aspects of the Sun-Earth system that directly impact life and society.

The primary goals of SDO are to learn about the Sun’s atmosphere and magnetic field, to understand how energy is stored and released in the Sun’s atmosphere (e.g. during solar flares and coronal mass ejections), and to measure solar fluctuations that affect life. The world and its technological systems. Providing nearly continuous, high-resolution observations of the Sun at multiple wavelengths, the observatory plays a critical role in improving our ability to predict weather events in space.

The observatory is equipped with three highly sensitive instruments:

1. Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) Every 12 seconds, it takes detailed images of the solar atmosphere at different wavelengths, allowing you to get a complete picture of the corona and its dynamics.
2. Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) By observing the Sun’s surface and magnetic field, it provides data to help understand the Sun’s internal structure and magnetic activity.
3. Extreme Ultraviolet Variability (EVE) Assay Measures the Sun’s ultraviolet radiation with unprecedented precision; this is vital to understanding changes in Earth’s atmosphere and space environment.

SDO data are integral to our understanding of the complex and dynamic behavior of the Sun and have significantly improved space weather forecasts.