Main character energy 🔥 The Sun emitted a mid-level solar flare this morning, peaking at around 1:01 am EST (06:01 UTC). Our Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), which observes the sun constantly, captured these images of the event. Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy. They usually take place in active regions, which are areas on the Sun marked by the strong presence of magnetic fields. As these magnetic fields evolve, they can reach a point of instability and release energy in many forms, including electromagnetic radiation, which is what is observed as solar flares. Flares and solar eruptions can impact radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecrafts and astronauts. In true main character fashion, we treat the Sun as if our world revolves around it! SDO observes the Sun and our space environment constantly with a fleet of spacecraft that study everything from the Sun’s activity to the solar atmosphere, to the particles and magne...