The Sun emitted a strong solar flare, peaking at 10:22 p.m. ET on May 2, 2024.
Flares impact Earth in a variety of ways: they can disrupt the ionosphere and interfere with
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) is a mission dedicated to understanding the origins of solar activity and its impacts on Earth. Launched in February 2010, the SDO is a critical part of NASA’s Living With a Star (LWS) program, which aims to develop the scientific understanding necessary to effectively address those aspects of the connected Sun-Earth system that directly affect life and society.
The observatory is equipped with a suite of instruments that provide observations leading to a deeper understanding of the solar atmosphere’s dynamics. These instruments are capable of capturing ultra-high-definition images of the Sun in 13 different wavelengths every few seconds. The key instruments include the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA), which produces images of the solar corona and chromosphere; the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI), which studies the solar surface and magnetic activity; and the Extreme Ultraviolet Variability Experiment (EVE), which measures the Sun’s ultraviolet output.
The data collected by the SDO has been instrumental in improving our ability to forecast space weather events, such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections, which can affect satellite operations, communications, power grids, and navigation systems on Earth. Through continuous monitoring, the SDO plays a pivotal role in our ongoing efforts to understand the complex solar processes that influence our daily lives and technological infrastructure.