X-class Flare Erupts from Sun on April 24

  • Released Friday, April 25, 2014
  • Updated Friday, June 5, 2015 at 12:32PM
  • ID: 11528
The sun emitted a significant solar flare, peaking at 8:27 p.m. EDT on April 24, 2014. Images of the flare were captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory. 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 X1.4 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.

Video of the April 24 flare from SDO in 304 angstrom light.

An X 1.4 solar flare erupted on the right side of the sun on the evening of April. 24, 2014. This composite image, captured at 8:42 p.m. EST, shows the sun in ultraviolet light with wavelength of both 131 and 304 angstroms.

An X 1.4 solar flare erupted on the right side of the sun on the evening of April. 24, 2014. This composite image, captured at 8:42 p.m. EST, shows the sun in ultraviolet light with wavelength of both 131 and 304 angstroms.

An X 1.4 solar flare erupted on the right side of the sun on the evening of April. 24, 2014. This composite image, captured at 8:42 p.m. EST, shows the sun in ultraviolet light with wavelength of both 131 and 304 angstroms. Cropped.

An X 1.4 solar flare erupted on the right side of the sun on the evening of April. 24, 2014. This composite image, captured at 8:42 p.m. EST, shows the sun in ultraviolet light with wavelength of both 131 and 304 angstroms. Cropped.

An X 1.4 solar flare erupted on the right side of the sun on the evening of April. 24, 2014. This series of three images, captured at 8:42 p.m. EST, shows the sun in ultraviolet light with wavelengths of 131, 304, and 171 angstroms, left to right.

An X 1.4 solar flare erupted on the right side of the sun on the evening of April. 24, 2014. This series of three images, captured at 8:42 p.m. EST, shows the sun in ultraviolet light with wavelengths of 131, 304, and 171 angstroms, left to right.

An X 1.4 solar flare erupted on the right side of the sun on the evening of April. 24, 2014. This series of three images, captured at 8:42 p.m. EST, shows the sun in ultraviolet light with wavelengths of 131, 304, and 171 angstroms, left to right. Unlabeled.

An X 1.4 solar flare erupted on the right side of the sun on the evening of April. 24, 2014. This series of three images, captured at 8:42 p.m. EST, shows the sun in ultraviolet light with wavelengths of 131, 304, and 171 angstroms, left to right. Unlabeled.

An X 1.4 solar flare erupted on the right side of the sun on the evening of April. 24, 2014. This image, captured at 8:42 p.m. EST, shows the sun in ultraviolet light with wavelength of 131 angstroms.

An X 1.4 solar flare erupted on the right side of the sun on the evening of April. 24, 2014. This image, captured at 8:42 p.m. EST, shows the sun in ultraviolet light with wavelength of 131 angstroms.

An X 1.4 solar flare erupted on the right side of the sun on the evening of April. 24, 2014. This image, captured at 8:42 p.m. EST, shows the sun in ultraviolet light with wavelength of 131 angstroms. Cropped.

An X 1.4 solar flare erupted on the right side of the sun on the evening of April. 24, 2014. This image, captured at 8:42 p.m. EST, shows the sun in ultraviolet light with wavelength of 131 angstroms. Cropped.

For More Information

See http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/x-class-flare-erupts-from-sun-on-april-24/

Credits

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NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/SDO

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