Sun ID: 10899

Biggest Solar Storm Since 2005

Released on January 24, 2012

The sun erupted late on January 22, 2012 with an M8.7 class flare, an earth-directed coronal mass ejection (CME), and a burst of fast moving, highly energetic protons known as a "solar energetic particle" event. The latter has caused the strongest solar radiation storm since September 2005 according to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center.

Solar Dynamics Observatory captured the flare, shown here in bronze as that is the color typically used to show light in the 193 angstrom wavelength. The flare began at 10:38 PM ET on Jan. 22, peaked at 10:59 PM and ended at 11:34 PM.

Credit: NASA/SDO/AIA

Solar Dynamics Observatory captured the flare, shown here in teal as that is the color typically used to show light in the 131 angstrom wavelength. The flare began at 10:38 PM ET on Jan. 22, peaked at 10:59 PM and ended at 11:34 PM.

Credit: NASA/SDO/AIA

Credits

Scott Wiessinger (USRA): Video Editor
Antti Pulkinnen (NASA/GSFC): Interviewee
Scott Wiessinger (USRA): Producer
Genna Duberstein (USRA): Producer
Swarupa Nune (Vantage): Project Support
Stuart A. Snodgrass (HTSI): Project Support
Rich Melnick (HTSI): Project Support
Pat Kennedy (HTSI): Project Support
Rob Andreoli (Advocates in Manpower Management, Inc.): Videographer
Karen Fox (ADNET Systems, Inc.): Writer

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center