HOn July 28, 2024, at 10:37 p.m., the Sun unleashed a significant solar flare, reaching an X1.5 classification. The Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) of NASA, which continuously monitors solar activity, captured the dramatic event.
Solar flares, intense bursts of radiation, can influence various technologies and systems on Earth. Their effects include disruptions to radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and can pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts.
The X-class designation indicates this flare’s high intensity, with the number reflecting its relative strength. For insights on how such space weather might affect Earth, visit NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center at https://spaceweather.gov/. NASA, alongside NOAA, plays a crucial role in monitoring and researching solar and space weather impacts, using a range of spacecraft to study the Sun, its atmosphere, and the surrounding space environment.