A Solar Dynamics Observatory video of the recent flare is a deceptively-tranquil vision of colossal energy eruption. A massive X1.4 flare is part of the highest intensity of flares releasing huge amounts of energy, yet the filaments are weirdly soothing.
X1.4 flare in 131, 304, and 171 angstrom wavelengths. Image Credit: NASA/SDO/Goddard Space Flight Center
The X1.4 flare is part of the highest-intensity X-category of flares, but at the low end of a spectrum that logarithmically increases to X9 flares. That’s still a huge amount of energy erupting from the sun, easily seen as the bright spot in this video from the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) data:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhghpiAZpKg
Video of the flare that peaked at 8:27 pm EDT on April 24 in 304 angstrom light. Credit: NASA/SDO/Goddard
The flare produced a minor Space Weather Warning citing the potential for aurora at high latitudes (Canada, Alaska), a radio burst that could briefly disrupt sensitive communication, maybe some weak power grid fluctuations.
We see bright aurora in the last few days flying over the south of Africa. pic.twitter.com/3rjXeHtQjw
— Koichi Wakata 若田光一 (@Astro_Wakata) May 4, 2014
Did you hear about the best-observed solar flare ever that occurred in March? Such an overload of beautiful, delicious data!
https://gizmodo.com/best-observed-solar-flare-ever-captured-by-5-observator-1573078965
