Powerful Solar Flare Emerges

On February 11, 2023, a powerful solar flare that peaked at 10:48 a.m. EDT was released by the Sun. The event was photographed by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, which continuously monitors the Sun.

On February 11, 2023, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare, which can be seen as the bright flash in the center-left. The image depicts a subset of extremely ultraviolet light that is colorized in red and orange and highlights the extremely hot material in flares.
Credit: NASA &Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO)

Solar flares are huge energy explosions. Solar flares and eruptions can affect radio communications, power grids, navigation signals, and seriously harm astronauts and spacecraft. An X1.1 flare is what this one is. The designation X-class designates the strongest flares, and the number tells you more about how powerful they are.

With a fleet of spacecraft that monitor everything from the Sun's activity to the solar atmosphere to the particles and magnetic fields in the space around Earth, NASA constantly monitors the Sun and our space environment.