NASA shares photos of huge explosions on the Sun that triggered solar flares

New Delhi:

NASA recorded two explosions on the Sun’s surface that triggered powerful solar flares on Friday and Saturday. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory has meticulously documented solar flares that sent waves of electromagnetic energy toward Earth.

“The Sun emitted two strong solar flares on May 10 and 11, 2024, peaking at 9:23 pm EDT May 10 and 7:44 am EDT May 11. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured images of the events, which were classified as class X5.8 and X1.5 explosions,” NASA said in a statement.

The Sun emitted two strong solar flares on May 10 and 11, 2024, peaking at 9:23 pm EDT on May 10 and 7:44 am EDT on May 11. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured images of the events, which were classified as class X5.8 and X1.5 flares. https://t.co/nLfnG1OvvEpic.twitter.com/LjmI0rk2Wm

– NASA Sun and Space (@NASASun) May 11, 2024

What followed was a cosmic spectacle, as Earth braced itself for the impact of these solar storms. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued warnings as the first of several coronal mass ejections (CMEs) surged toward our planet.

For skywatchers around the world, this celestial drama unfolded in dazzling auroras that painted the skies with vibrant shades of pink, green and purple. From northern Europe to Tasmania, Australia, skywatchers have managed to capture stunning photos courtesy of the rare phenomena.

Solar storms, while fascinating, pose potential risks to technological infrastructure. Fluctuating magnetic fields induced by geomagnetic storms can disrupt electrical grids, communications networks and satellite operations.

Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX and Starlink, acknowledged the challenges posed by the solar storm, noting the pressure on satellite operations. Despite the concerns, Musk assured that SpaceX’s satellites were well equipped to deal with the solar storm.