The Sun emitted an intense solar flare on August 14, 2:40 p.m. ET.

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare—visible as the bright flash in the center—on August 14, 2024. The image, showcasing a subset of extreme ultraviolet light, highlights the intensely hot material in the flare, which is colorized in teal.

The Sun emitted a significant solar flare, peaking at 2:40 a.m. ET on August 14, 2024. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured the dramatic event, showcasing the intensity of the flare. Classified as an X1.1 flare, this event falls into the X-class category, the most intense type of solar flare. The numerical value indicates its strength within this classification.

Solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation that can disrupt radio communications, electric power grids, and navigation signals, and they pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts. 

To understand the potential effects of this space weather on Earth, visit NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center at https://spaceweather.gov/, the U.S. government’s authoritative source for space weather forecasts and alerts. NASA, as part of the nation’s space weather monitoring efforts, continues to observe the Sun and its effects on the space environment with a fleet of spacecraft.