NASA shares incredible images of Sun flares being emerged from the Sun, can affect GPS, phone signals and electricity

Sun flares can affect GPS, phone signals and electricity (image credit: Unsplash/NASA)
 

American space agency NASA  has recently shared the stunning images of solar flares on Instagram. NASA's 'Solar Dynamics Laboratory' clicked spectacular photos of the Sun's mid-level solar flares on January 20.

NASA grouped it as an M5.5 class flare, which is of moderate severity X-Ray flares. The agency said that the Sun emitted the solar flare on January 20 and it peaked around 1:01am EST (11:31am IST). Solar flares have the potential to impact radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts. They usually take place in active regions, 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. Solar flares occur in active regions and are often, but not always, accompanied by coronal mass ejections.

According to the agency-“NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory observes  the Sun constantly and captures these images of the Sun with a fleet of spacecraft that study everything related to the Sun. 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 magnetic fields in the space surrounding Earth”

NASA continued-“Flares and solar eruptions can affect radio communications, electrical power grids, sea navigation signals and pose a risk to spacecraft and astronauts. Increased levels of X-rays and extreme ultraviolet radiation lead to ionization in the lower layers of the ionosphere at Earth's Sun's edge. When a sufficient amount of solar flare emanates from the Sun, the radio waves interact with the electrons in the layers. In the lower layers of the ionosphere, they constantly collide with the atmosphere of high density, due to which their energy is dissipated. This can interfere with the HF radio signals and cause radio blackouts, or communication system interruptions.”

(credit: NASA/SDO Instagram)

The post was shared about one day ago on Instagram. Since being shared  the post has gathered more than 9.4 lakh likes and counting. The share has also accumulated tons of comments from people.

Previously, the NASA spacecraft 'Parker Solar Probe' also did an unprecedented feat of touching the sun. Even on  on last month, NASA also warned about swirling Sun debris created by a solar storm hitting the Earth, resulting in an aurora (a natural light display on Earth's sky). There was also a possibility of mild disturbance to radio and GPS services. But nothing major was reported then. Solar storms are not a new phenomenon and occur at periodic intervals. The time taken by a solar storm to reach Earth depends on its intensity. They can travel at breakneck speeds and reach Earth 15–18 hours after the ejection.

What are Solar flares?

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. These solar flares are powerful explosives of electromagnetic radiation. The duration of which can range from one minute to several hours.

NASA has classified these solar flares into 5 categories, based on how severe they are, M1 is minor, M2 is moderate, X1 is strong, X10 is severe and X20 is extreme. It is said that apart from M1, all of them can potentially cause harm to Earth’s power and communication system.