The Sun Flares with Activity

On January 23, 2012, satellites observed the most powerful solar radiation storm since 2005. This animation shows a solar flare as observed by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) at 03:27, 03:42, and 04:12 Universal Time (Greenwich Time) on January 23. Note the brightening of the solar surface as gas was superheated and magnetically supercharged. By the end, a stream of solar material is seen flowing off into space above the hot spot, likely solar protons and a coronal mass ejection.
Read more at earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD...