NASA Releases Captivating Images of Solar Explosions and Flares on the Sun
NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured the sun explosions in great detail, sending waves of electromagnetic radiation racing towards Earth.
New Delhi: On Friday and Saturday, two explosions on the sun's surface were captured by NASA and resulted in strong solar flares. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured the sun explosions in great detail, sending waves of electromagnetic radiation racing towards Earth.
"On May 10 and 11, 2024, the Sun produced two powerful solar flares, with the flares peaking at 9:23 p.m. EDT on May 10 and 7:44 a.m. EDT on May 11. The flares were identified as X5.8 and X1.5-class flares based on photos taken by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, the agency said in a statement.
As Earth prepared for the impact of these solar storms, what
happened next was a celestial display. As the first of many coronal mass
ejections (CMEs) roared towards Earth, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) sent out warnings.
This celestial spectacle was shown to skywatchers worldwide in the form of
breathtaking auroras that painted the skies in vivid shades of pink, green, and
purple. Thanks to this uncommon occurrence, skywatchers were able to take
breathtaking images from northern Europe to Tasmania, Australia.
Although fascinating, solar storms can be dangerous for technology infrastructure. Geomagnetic storm-induced fluctuations in magnetic fields have the potential to interfere with satellite operations, communication networks, and power grids.
The founder of SpaceX and Starlink, Elon Musk, noted that
the solar storm was putting a strain on satellite operations and that there
were obstacles involved. Musk reassured that SpaceX's satellites were
adequately prepared to withstand the solar storm, despite initial reservations.