NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) has released breathtaking videos of the most significant solar flare in the past 20 years. This event had a notable impact on Earth, demonstrating the powerful and dynamic nature of our Sun.
NASA confirmed that a massive solar flare erupted on the Sun’s surface, marking the largest flare in both the last two decades and within the current 11-year solar cycle. The Solar Dynamics Observatory, a semi-autonomous spacecraft launched in 2010 to monitor the Sun, captured these impressive flares and recently shared the footage with the public.
New Videos of Solar Flares Released by NASA
Recently, people who normally do not get to witness the aurora borealis, or Northern Lights, enjoyed a visual treat as the effects of these solar flares reached Earth. Meanwhile, NASA’s SDO had its focus on the Sun. According to NASA, the sequence of events began on May 7th. On this date, two powerful solar flares erupted, initiating a week of record-breaking solar activity. Between May 3rd and May 9th, NASA observed 82 significant solar flares, eight of which were classified as X-class flares, the most intense type.
Although the solar activity captured in the video above is impressive, it is far from the peak. The video below from NASA shows the same solar region producing a major flare rated X8.7 on May 14th.
These flares generated a series of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that reached astonishing speeds of approximately 3,000,000 miles per hour (4,830,000 km/h). The particles from these CMEs began to reach Earth on May 10th, causing a geomagnetic storm rated G5, the highest level of geomagnetic storms.
This level of storm had not impacted Earth since 2003, and it created auroras visible as far south as northern India. NASA suggests that the resulting aurora displays could be the most intense seen in the past 500 years. Future missions, such as the Geospace Dynamics Constellation (GDC) and the Dynamical Neutral Atmosphere-Ionosphere Coupling (DYNAMIC), aim to provide even more detailed observations of the Sun. NASA’s Teresa Nieves-Chinchilla mentioned that these recent solar events will be studied for years to come, offering valuable insights into solar dynamics and their effects on Earth.
For more information and to view the spectacular videos, you can visit NASA’s website and their official social media channels.
