Early February Flares 2026

So far, the Sun has emitted six X-class solar flares in the first four days of February. X-class flares are the most powerful.

In this composite image, we've layered all six X-class flares onto the Sun at once, to show the active areas. The images come from the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), which observes the Sun in different wavelengths, using filters that emphasize different characteristics. Flare #6, for example, shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares, which is colored in red and blue.

The Sun’s magnetic field goes through a cycle, called the solar cycle, about every 11 years, with periods of more and less activity. The Sun reached its most active phase – solar maximum – in 2024, which means we’re still in a fairly active period of the cycle.

For news of the recent flares: https://science.nasa.gov/blogs/solar-cycle-25/

Image Description

Composite image of 6 X-class solar flares emitted in February. In the center, the Sun is a dark red globe with mottled darker and glowing orange spots. Just above the equator and to the left of center longitudinally, 2 bright white glowing spots are made of the combined 6 X-class flares emitted so far. Six squares pop out from the center Sun, with lines connecting to the spot on the composite Sun their flare is contributing. Along the top, the squares are labeled 2, 4 and 6. Each has a subset of the Sun seen in a different colored wavelength. Box 2 is a purple Sun with a pinkish flare, from Feb. 2, 2026. Box 4 is a golden Sun with a white flare from Feb. 2, 2026. Box 6 is a pink Sun with an orange flare from Feb. 4, 2026. Along the bottom, the boxes are labeled 1, 3 and 5. Box 1 has a turquoise Sun with a teal flare from Feb. 1, 2026. Box 3 has a yellow Sun with an orange flare from Feb. 2, 2026. Box 5 has a red Sun the same color as the center, with a white flare, from Feb. 3, 2026.

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured these images of the solar flares — seen as the bright flashes in the center of the images — on Feb. 1 and Feb. 2, 2026. The images show a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares and which is colorized in gold and red.

NASA/SDO

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of an X1.0 solar flare – as seen in the bright eruption on the upper left — at 12:34 UTC on Februrary 1, 2026. The image shows 131 Angstrom light, a subset of extreme ultraviolet light. Credit: NASA/SDO

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of an X1.0 solar flare – as seen in the bright eruption on the upper left — at 12:34 UTC on Februrary 1, 2026. The image shows 131 Angstrom light, a subset of extreme ultraviolet light, colorized red. Credit: NASA/SDO

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of an X1.0 solar flare – as seen in the bright eruption on the upper left — at 12:34 UTC on Februrary 1, 2026. The image shows 171 Angstrom light, a subset of extreme ultraviolet light. Credit: NASA/SDO

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of an X8.1 solar flare – as seen in the bright eruption on the upper left — at 23:59 UTC on Februrary 1, 2026. The image shows a blend of 171 and 131 Angstrom light, subsets of extreme ultraviolet light that highlight different features of the Sun's corona. Credit: NASA/SDO

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of an X8.1 solar flare – as seen in the bright eruption on the upper left — at 23:59 UTC on Februrary 1, 2026. The image shows a blend of 171 and 131 Angstrom light, subsets of extreme ultraviolet light that highlight different features of the Sun's corona. Credit: NASA/SDO

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of an X8.1 solar flare – as seen in the bright eruption on the upper left — at 23:59 UTC on Februrary 1, 2026. The image shows a blend of 171 and 131 Angstrom light, subsets of extreme ultraviolet light that highlight different features of the Sun's corona. Credit: NASA/SDO

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of an X8.1 solar flare – as seen in the bright eruption on the upper left — at 23:59 UTC on Februrary 1, 2026. The image shows a blend of 171 and 131 Angstrom light, subsets of extreme ultraviolet light that highlight different features of the Sun's corona. Credit: NASA/SDO

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of an X8.1 solar flare – as seen in the bright eruption on the upper left — at 23:59 UTC on Februrary 1, 2026. The image shows a blend of 171 and 131 Angstrom light, subsets of extreme ultraviolet light that highlight different features of the Sun's corona. Credit: NASA/SDO

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of an X8.1 solar flare – as seen in the bright eruption on the upper left — at 23:59 UTC on Februrary 1, 2026. The image shows 131 Angstrom light, a subset of extreme ultraviolet light. Credit: NASA/SDO

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of an X8.1 solar flare – as seen in the bright eruption on the upper left — at 23:59 UTC on Februrary 1, 2026. The image shows 131 Angstrom light, a subset of extreme ultraviolet light, colorized red. Credit: NASA/SDO

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of an X8.1 solar flare – as seen in the bright eruption on the upper left — at 23:59 UTC on Februrary 1, 2026. The image shows 171 Angstrom light, a subset of extreme ultraviolet light. Credit: NASA/SDO

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of an X8.1 solar flare – as seen in the bright eruption on the upper left — at 23:59 UTC on Februrary 1, 2026. The image shows 304 Angstrom light, a subset of extreme ultraviolet light. Credit: NASA/SDO

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of an X2.8 solar flare – as seen in the bright eruption on the upper left — at 00:37 UTC on Februrary 2, 2026. The image shows 131 Angstrom light, a subset of extreme ultraviolet light. Credit: NASA/SDO

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of an X2.8 solar flare – as seen in the bright eruption on the upper left — at 00:37 UTC on Februrary 2, 2026. The image shows 131 Angstrom light, a subset of extreme ultraviolet light, colorized red. Credit: NASA/SDO

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of an X2.8 solar flare – as seen in the bright eruption on the upper left — at 00:37 UTC on Februrary 2, 2026. The image shows 171 Angstrom light, a subset of extreme ultraviolet light. Credit: NASA/SDO

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of an X1.6 solar flare – as seen in the bright eruption on the upper left — at 08:15 UTC on Februrary 2, 2026. The image shows 131 Angstrom light, a subset of extreme ultraviolet light. Credit: NASA/SDO

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of an X1.6 solar flare – as seen in the bright eruption on the upper left — at 08:15 UTC on Februrary 2, 2026. The image shows 131 Angstrom light, a subset of extreme ultraviolet light, colorized red. Credit: NASA/SDO

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of an X1.5 solar flare – as seen in the bright eruption on the upper left — at 14:15 UTC on Februrary 3, 2026. The image shows 131 Angstrom light, a subset of extreme ultraviolet light. Credit: NASA/SDO

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of an X1.5 solar flare – as seen in the bright eruption on the upper left — at 14:15 UTC on Februrary 3, 2026. The image shows 131 Angstrom light, a subset of extreme ultraviolet light, colorized red. Credit: NASA/SDO

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of an X4.2 solar flare – as seen in the bright eruption in the center — at 12:16 UTC on Februrary 4, 2026. The image shows a blend of 171 and 131 Angstrom light, subsets of extreme ultraviolet light that highlight different features of the Sun's corona. Credit: NASA/SDO

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of an X4.2 solar flare – as seen in the bright eruption in the center — at 12:16 UTC on Februrary 4, 2026. The image shows a blend of 171 and 131 Angstrom light, subsets of extreme ultraviolet light that highlight different features of the Sun's corona. Credit: NASA/SDO

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of an X4.2 solar flare – as seen in the bright eruption in the center — at 12:16 UTC on Februrary 4, 2026. The image shows a blend of 171 and 131 Angstrom light, subsets of extreme ultraviolet light that highlight different features of the Sun's corona. Credit: NASA/SDO

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of an X4.2 solar flare – as seen in the bright eruption in the center — at 12:16 UTC on Februrary 4, 2026. The image shows a blend of 171 and 131 Angstrom light, subsets of extreme ultraviolet light that highlight different features of the Sun's corona. Credit: NASA/SDO

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of an X4.2 solar flare – as seen in the bright eruption in the center — at 12:16 UTC on Februrary 4, 2026. The image shows 131 Angstrom light, a subset of extreme ultraviolet light. Credit: NASA/SDO

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of an X4.2 solar flare – as seen in the bright eruption in the center — at 12:16 UTC on Februrary 4, 2026. The image shows 131 Angstrom light, a subset of extreme ultraviolet light, colorized red. Credit: NASA/SDO

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of an X4.2 solar flare – as seen in the bright eruption in the center — at 12:16 UTC on Februrary 4, 2026. The image shows 171 Angstrom light, a subset of extreme ultraviolet light. Credit: NASA/SDO