Sun emits X5.0 class solar flare

The Sun emitted a X5.0 class solar flare on 31 December 2023, peaking at 21:55 UTC. Solar flares are sudden explosions of energy in the Sun’s atmosphere that can release a lot of radiation into space. X-class denotes the most intense flares, while the number provides more information about its strength. Credit: Solar Dynamics Observatory movies courtesy of NASA/SDO and the AIA, EVE, and HMI science teams