Levels of potentially dangerous cosmic radiation in Earth's atmosphere rose to a two-decade high in November after a rare solar super-flare pummeled the planet with high-speed particles from the sun.
We don't often get a good look at X-class solar flares from ground-based observatories.
This year marks 30 years of SOHO observing our sun, an extraordinary milestone for a mission originally expected to last only about three years.
A powerful X1.9 solar flare from new sunspot AR4299 triggered strong radio blackouts, as giant sunspot AR4294 rotates into view with more activity likely.
These images help to unravel the magnetic mechanisms driving the sun's behavior and shaping the space environment throughout the solar system.
When last year's solar superstorm Gannon slammed into Earth, it not only painted the sky with beautiful auroras, but also shrunk one of the planet's protective layers to just one-fifth its usual size.
Solar storms don't just trigger impressive auroras; they can scramble the GPS systems U.S. farmers rely on.
The eruption was accompanied by a CME, which is currently under analysis to assess whether any part of it is headed for Earth.
The X5.1-class eruption from sunspot AR4274 is this year's most powerful solar flare and Earth is in the firing line.
"Solar Orbiter can now provide this missing piece of the puzzle."
