Sun Emits an X2.2 Flare on March 11, 2015

  • Released Wednesday, March 11, 2015
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An X2.2 class solar flare flashes in the middle of the sun on Mar. 11, 2015. This image was captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory and shows a blend of light from the 171 and 131 angstrom wavelengths.Credit: NASA/GSFC/SDO

An X2.2 class solar flare flashes in the middle of the sun on Mar. 11, 2015. This image was captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory and shows a blend of light from the 171 and 131 angstrom wavelengths.

Credit: NASA/GSFC/SDO

The sun emitted a significant solar flare, peaking at 12:22 p.m. EDT on March 11, 2015. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the sun constantly, captured an image of the event. Solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation. Harmful radiation from a flare cannot pass through Earth's 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.

 This flare is classified as an X2.2-class flare. X-class denotes the most intense flares, while the number provides more information about its strength. An X2 is twice as intense as an X1, an X3 is three times as intense, etc.  

An X2.2 class solar flare flashes in the middle of the sun on Mar. 11, 2015. This image was captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory and shows a blend of light from the 171 and 131 angstrom wavelengths. The Earth is shown to scale.Credit: NASA/GSFC/SDO

An X2.2 class solar flare flashes in the middle of the sun on Mar. 11, 2015. This image was captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory and shows a blend of light from the 171 and 131 angstrom wavelengths. The Earth is shown to scale.

Credit: NASA/GSFC/SDO

An X2.2 class solar flare flashes in the middle of the sun on Mar. 11, 2015. This image was captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory and shows a blend of light from the 171 and 131 angstrom wavelengths. Credit: NASA/GSFC/SDO

An X2.2 class solar flare flashes in the middle of the sun on Mar. 11, 2015. This image was captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory and shows a blend of light from the 171 and 131 angstrom wavelengths.

Credit: NASA/GSFC/SDO

An X2.2 class solar flare flashes in the middle of the sun on Mar. 11, 2015. This image was captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory at 16:22:44UT and shows light in the 131 angstrom wavelength.Credit: NASA/GSFC/SDO

An X2.2 class solar flare flashes in the middle of the sun on Mar. 11, 2015. This image was captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory at 16:22:44UT and shows light in the 131 angstrom wavelength.

Credit: NASA/GSFC/SDO

Short video of the flare in 304 angstrom light.

Credit: NASA/GSFC/SDO

Image of the flare in 304 angstrom light.Credit: NASA/GSFC/SDO

Image of the flare in 304 angstrom light.

Credit: NASA/GSFC/SDO

For More Information

See http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/sun-emits-significant-solar-flare-X2.2-20150311/

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. However, individual items should be credited as indicated above.

This page was originally published on Wednesday, March 11, 2015.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 1:49 PM EDT.

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