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Related: About this forumStunning view of solar flare
NASAs Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) captured this imagery of a mid-level solar flare as seen in the bright flash around 8:30 pm EDT on April 17, 2016.
Solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation. Harmful radiation from a flare cannot pass through Earths atmosphere to physically affect humans on the ground, however when intense enough they can disturb the atmosphere in the layer where GPS and communications signals travel. The flare shown here was of moderate strength and only caused brief radio blackouts, according to NOAAs Space Weather Prediction Center.
This video was captured in several wavelengths of extreme ultraviolet light, a type of light that is typically invisible to our eyes, but is color-coded in SDO images for easy viewing.
SDO observes the sun constantly to help scientists understand what causes eruptions like these.
Video at link as well:
http://earthsky.org/space/stunning-view-of-solar-flare-april17-2016?utm_source=EarthSky+News&utm_campaign=f452138682-EarthSky_News&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c643945d79-f452138682-394533365
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Stunning view of solar flare (Original Post)
Cassiopeia
Apr 2016
OP
PJMcK
(22,037 posts)1. Wow! What an image
Thanks for posting this image and link, Cassiopeia.
Cassiopeia
(2,603 posts)2. No problem.
Glad you liked it.
AuntPatsy
(9,904 posts)3. Amazing photo...
Judi Lynn
(160,530 posts)4. Intriguing. n/t