One of a series of handout images made available by NASA / Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) on 03 October 2011 showing an image of a solar flare as it erupted from the sun early on 28 October 2003. NASA reports that Solar flares are giant explosions on the sun that send energy, light and high speed particles into space. These flares are often associated with solar magnetic storms known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs). The number of solar flares increases approximately every 11 years, and the sun is currently moving towards another solar maximum, likely in 2013. That means more flares will be coming, some small and some big enough to send their radiation all the way to Earth. EPA/NASA/SOHO / HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY
One of a series of handout images made available on 03 October 2011 and released by NASA/ Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) showing a full-disk multiwavelength extreme ultraviolet image of the sun taken by SDO on 30 March 2010. False colors trace different gas temperatures. Reds are relatively cool (about 60,000 Kelvin, or 107,540 F); blues and greens are hotter (greater than 1 million Kelvin, or 1,799,540 F). NASA reports that Solar flares are giant explosions on the sun that send energy, light and high speed particles into space. These flares are often associated with solar magnetic storms known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs). The number of solar flares increases approximately every 11 years, and the sun is currently moving towards another solar maximum, likely in 2013. That means more flares will be coming, some small and some big enough to send their radiation all the way to Earth. EPA/NASA/GSFC/AIA / HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY
One of a series of handout images made available on 03 October 2011 and released by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) shows several flares and their associated waves across the Sun. Solar Flare Activity For First Light Images taken by SDO immediately after the AIA CCD cameras cooled on 30 March 2010. NASA states that Solar flares are giant explosions on the sun that send energy, light and high speed particles into space. These flares are often associated with solar magnetic storms known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs). The number of solar flares increases approximately every 11 years, and the sun is currently moving towards another solar maximum, likely in 2013. That means more flares will be coming, some small and some big enough to send their radiation all the way to Earth. EPA/NASA/GSFC/AIA / HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY
One of a series of handout images made available on 03 October 2011 and released by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) dated 03 October 2011 of an image taken by SDO's AIA instrument at 171 Angstrom showing the current conditions of the quiet corona and upper transition region of the Sun. NASA reports that Solar flares are giant explosions on the sun that send energy, light and high speed particles into space. These flares are often associated with solar magnetic storms known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs). The number of solar flares increases approximately every 11 years, and the sun is currently moving towards another solar maximum, likely in 2013. That means more flares will be coming, some small and some big enough to send their radiation all the way to Earth. EPA/NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory / HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY
One of a series of handout images made available on 03 October 2011 and released by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and dated 10 January 2011 shows the Sun in extreme ultraviolet light captures a dark coronal hole just about at Sun center. Coronal holes are areas of the Sun's surface that are the source of open magnetic field lines that head way out into space. They are also the source regions of the fast solar wind, which is characterized by a relatively steady speed of approximately 800 km/s. NASA reports that Solar flares are giant explosions on the sun that send energy, light and high speed particles into space. These flares are often associated with solar magnetic storms known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs). The number of solar flares increases approximately every 11 years, and the sun is currently moving towards another solar maximum, likely in 2013. That means more flares will be coming, some small and some big enough to send their radiation all the way to Earth. EPA/NASA/GSFC/AIA / HANOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY
One of a series of handout images made available on 03 October 2011 and released by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) dated 13 February 2011 shows sunspot 1158 unleashed the strongest solar flare of the year so far, an M6.6-category blast. NASA reports that Solar flares are giant explosions on the sun that send energy, light and high speed particles into space. These flares are often associated with solar magnetic storms known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs). The number of solar flares increases approximately every 11 years, and the sun is currently moving towards another solar maximum, likely in 2013. That means more flares will be coming, some small and some big enough to send their radiation all the way to Earth. EPA/NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory / HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY
