Sun Unleashes X6.9 Class Flare on August 9, 2011
As of March 2014, this flare is the largest of solar cycle 24.

The August 9th, 2011 X6.9 flare as seen by the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) Ahead spacecraft at 8:06UT in 304 angstrom light. STEREO A's position ahead of the Earth gives it a different perspective of the sun, so the flare appears closer to the center of the disk instead of at the edge.
Credit: NASA/GSFC/STEREO

The August 9th, 2011 X6.9 flare as seen by the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) Ahead spacecraft at 8:06UT in 195 angstrom light. STEREO A's position ahead of the Earth gives it a different perspective of the sun, so the flare appears closer to the center of the disk instead of at the edge.
Credit: NASA/GSFC/STEREO

The August 9th, 2011 X6.9 flare as seen by the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) Ahead spacecraft at 8:06UT in 171 angstrom light. STEREO A's position ahead of the Earth gives it a different perspective of the sun, so the flare appears closer to the center of the disk instead of at the edge.
Credit: NASA/GSFC/STEREO
Credits
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. However, individual images should be credited as indicated above.
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