NASA: Solar Flares

On August 1st, 2010 solar activity increased dramatically causing intense Northern Lights over much of the northern hemisphere. Unfortunately most of Winnipeg was covered in heavy cloud which prevented me from getting a good view, but luckily NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) was able to capture some breath-taking views of the solar event and the impact it had on the sun's surface.


This image in particular is an ultraviolet shot of the sun captures a perfect view of a coronal mass ejection in the top left hand corner. The Solar Dynamics Observatory's website contains dozens of up-to-date images of the sun so that you can keep track of all this amazing solar activity.

Did you have a chance to see the Northern Lights where you were this past week?

Credit: NASA/SDO/AIA