SDO Sees Trio of Mid-Level Flares

  • Released Monday, July 25th, 2016
  • Updated Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023 at 1:48PM
  • ID: 12326

The sun emitted three mid-level solar flares on July 22-23, 2016, the strongest peaking at 1:16 am EDT on July 23. The sun is currently in a period of low activity, moving toward what's called solar minimum when there are few to no solar eruptions – so these flares were the first large ones observed since April. They are categorized as mid-strength flares, substantially less intense than the most powerful solar flares.

The first was an M5.0, which peaked at 10:11 pm EDT on July 22, 2016.

The first was an M5.0, which peaked at 10:11 pm EDT on July 22, 2016.

The second flare -- the strongest -- was an M7.6, which peaked at 1:16 am EDT on July 23.

The second flare -- the strongest -- was an M7.6, which peaked at 1:16 am EDT on July 23.

The final flare was an M5.5, which peaked 15 minutes later at 1:31 am EDT.

The final flare was an M5.5, which peaked 15 minutes later at 1:31 am EDT.

Music: Rubicon by Sam Hamilton

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NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

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