On November 6, 2024, NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded a powerful solar flare that peaked at 8:40 am. This flare, classified as X2.3, is intense enough to potentially disrupt radio signals, navigation systems and electrical grids on Earth. It also poses significant risks for astronauts and spacecraft operating in orbit.

solar flares They are sudden bursts of energy and light emanating from the surface of the Sun. They occur when strong magnetic fields within the Sun create a vortex, releasing their energy and sending intense radiation into space. This radiation spans a broad spectrum, including visible light, X-rays, and ultraviolet light, and can travel throughout the solar system at nearly the speed of light. Solar flares are often associated with sunspots, which are cooler, darker areas on the Sun’s surface where magnetic fields are particularly strong.

solar flares They are classified according to their density; the most intense types are Class X flares, followed by Class M, Class C, and Class B flares are the most powerful and can have significant effects on Earth. When an X-class flare targets Earth, it can disrupt our planet’s upper atmosphere, disrupting radio communications, GPS signals and even power grids. High-energy solar particles can also pose a danger to astronauts and satellites in orbit, potentially damaging sensitive electronics.

solar flares It is part of a broader space weather phenomenon that includes the solar wind and coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which are massive clouds of charged particles ejected from the Sun that often accompany powerful solar flares. Scientists closely monitor solar activity to predict solar flares and reduce their impact on Earth and space. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory and other solar telescopes around the world help monitor these outbursts, providing critical data to understand and respond to solar activity that can impact modern technology and space exploration.

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) is a spacecraft designed to study the Sun’s atmosphere and magnetic activity. Launched in 2010, SDO captures solar activity in unprecedented detail, providing high-resolution images and data. The mission plays a key role in NASA’s efforts to understand space weather; It specifically focuses on solar events such as solar flares, sunspots, and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that can affect Earth’s communications systems, satellites, and power grids.

Equipped with three main instruments—the Atmospheric Imaging Array (AIA), the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI), and the Extreme Ultraviolet Variability Experiment (EVE)—SDO measures the Sun’s magnetic field, images and monitors the Sun’s atmosphere at different wavelengths. its energy output. This combination of instruments allows SDO to monitor changes in the Sun’s magnetic fields, temperature, and atmospheric composition, revealing how these factors affect solar activity.

SDO orbits the Earth at a vantage point that provides a constant view of the Sun and transmits real-time data 24/7. The information it collects helps scientists make accurate space weather forecasts; This is critical to protecting Earth-based technology and astronauts in space.