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| NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured images of two solar flares—seen as bright flashes near the center—on June 1. These images show extreme ultraviolet light, highlighting the hot material in flares, colorized in blue and gold. |
On Saturday, June 1, 2024, the Sun unleashed two powerful solar flares, peaking at 4:48 a.m. and 2:36 p.m. ET. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which continuously monitors the Sun, captured stunning images of these events.
Solar flares are intense bursts of energy capable of impacting radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and posing risks to spacecraft and astronauts. The first flare, occurring early in the morning, was classified as an X1.4 flare, while the second, in the afternoon, was classified as an X1.0 flare. The X-class denotes the most powerful flares, with the number indicating the strength within this category.
For more information on how space weather can affect Earth, visit NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center at [spaceweather.gov](https://spaceweather.gov/). This site is the U.S. government’s official source for space weather forecasts, watches, warnings, and alerts.
NASA plays a crucial role in the nation’s space weather efforts by conducting research and constantly observing the Sun and the surrounding space environment with a fleet of spacecraft. These studies cover the Sun’s activity, its atmosphere, and the particles and magnetic fields in the space around Earth.