Solar Surface Erupts with Intense Flare

On Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 5:49 p.m. ET, the Sun unleashed a powerful flare. NASA’s  Solar Dynamics Observatory, which continuously monitors the Sun, captured an image of the event.

Solar flares are intense bursts of energy from the Sun, and they can have real effects here on Earth. These powerful events can disrupt radio signals, interfere with power grids, affect GPS navigation, and even pose risks to satellites and astronauts in space.

The recent flare has been classified as an X1.2 flare. In this system, “X-class” refers to the most powerful category of solar flares, and the number gives a sense of just how strong it was within that class.

If you’re curious about how space weather like this could impact Earth, check out the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center at https://spaceweather.gov/. It’s the official U.S. source for forecasts, watches, warnings, and alerts about solar activity.

NASA plays a key role in understanding space weather. As the research arm of the national space weather program, NASA monitors the Sun and space environment 24/7 using a fleet of specialized spacecraft. These missions help us study everything from solar flares and eruptions to the magnetic fields and particles that surround our planet.