The Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) of NASA has released a new stunning ultra-high definition 4K video capture of the sun. The minute-long footage shows the brightest object in the solar system bursting its flares at 8:29 p.m. on April 17, 2016.
Daily Mail reported that the powerful phenomenon caused radio signals to briefly blackout on Earth. This is typical of solar flares because of its radiation. If intense, it can affect travel and communication signals to some degree, per NASA.
Mid-level solar flare spotted by our Solar Dynamics Observatory in 4K Ultra HD https://t.co/PQJHMeCe2J @NASASunEarthhttps://t.co/4qzkvZp6oi
— NASA (@NASA) April 26, 2016
NASA SDO 4K Video: Was The Solar Flare Harmful?
Despite the presence of radiation, the Earth's atmosphere protects humans from solar flares. It cannot pass through to physically cause harm for Earth's inhabitants.
The ultraviolet light from the solar flare is also not visible to the naked eye, hence the 4K video capture provides a rare view of the stunning occurrence. It presents images in multiple color-coded wavelengths for better viewing.
NASA SDO 4K Video: How Intense Was The Solar Flare?
NASA's SDO keeps track of the sun regularly to study its activities and characteristics, especially solar flares. In this particular observation, the solar flare happed in the sun's Active Region 2529.
Days before the flare occurred, a noticeable sunspot appeared on the surface, per another NASA report. It was big enough to be filled with five Earths.
Experts categorized the flare from April 17 as an M6.7. The SDO classifies solar flares into A, B, C, M and X. M-class flares are bigger in size than X-class flares, but X-class flares are the most intense. The number next to the M signifies the type of the intensity, so M6.7 means it's 6.7 times more intense than the M1 level.
NASA SDO's Thermonuclear Art 4K Video From 2015
In 2015, NASA's SDO also released a 30-minute 4K video of a sun activity, which has been dubbed as "Thermonuclear Art." It highlighted the structure and behavior of the sun.
The footage has been described as a presentation of "the dance of the ultra-hot material on our life-giving star in extraordinary detail, offering an intimate view of the grand forces of the solar system," per Huffington Post. Watch it below:
