A group of astronomers at ESA ESTEC are testing some solar observation equipment on September 6, 2017. They captured the solar flare, which turned out to be one of the most powerful in the last decade.
The images shown here were taken with the iPhone via a special H-alpha interference filter (centered on the wavelength of hydrogen emissions) mounted on a special solar telescope at 13:09:26 GMT.
An X9.3 beacon is observed by a space telescope as it glides from the Sun at 12:02 GMT, meaning that this image is taken when the flare is in phase of gradual decay.
The flare is seen as a cloudy white feature with some ribbons to the bottom right. This appears to be a milder feature against the average solar background due to the post-beacon energy release seen in hydrogen emissions from the interconnected magnetic loop.
In August 2017 it was reported that NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) has shared a remarkable timelapse, which records the life of sunspots that rotated or spun in July.
The timelapse shows an AR2665 active area of 75,000 miles-wide, a strong and complex magnetic field area. The magnetic field area produces several solar flares, coronal mass releases, and Sun's active particles.
On July 5th, the NASA Solar Dynamis Observatory saw an active rotating region visible in the Sun. Satellites continue to track the region that crosses the Sun and are not seen again on July 17.
Sunspot is a common occurrence in the Sun, although its activity is decreasing now. This happens because the Sun moves toward a lower period of Sun activity, called the Solar Minimum.
Sunspots appear darker, colder areas on the surface of the Sun are caused by interactions with the Sun's magnetic field. They tend to appear in areas of strong magnetic activity, and when the energy is released, solar flares and large storms erupt from sunspots.
Such storms can create amazing auroras around the world, and can cause great chaos. The chaos that occurs is related to the electrical grid that can lead to electrical outages in some areas.