Sun Releases Another Strong Solar Flare | NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory

Sun Releases Another Strong Solar Flare | NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory

The Sun emitted a strong solar flare, peaking at 7:13 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. This image was captured by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). 

In this composite image are all six X-class flares layered onto the Sun at once. The images come from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). It observes the Sun in multiple wavelengths, using filters to reveal distinct traits.

The Sun emitted six X-class solar flares so far in February 2026, including a strong solar flare, peaking at 7:13 a.m. ET on February 4. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, watching the Sun constantly, captured an image of the event. This flare is classified as an X4.2 flare. X-class denotes the most intense flares, while the number provides more information about its strength.

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare (first picture)—seen as the bright flash toward the upper middle—on Feb. 4, 2026. The image shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares that is colorized in blue and red.

Image Description: The Sun against a black background. The Sun is colorized primarily in blue, with brighter purple areas scattered across the star showing higher activity areas. Toward the upper center of the star, there is a bright flash in white and red. It looks like an X—the solar flare.

Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy. Flares and solar eruptions can impact radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts.

To see how such space weather may affect Earth, please visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center https://spaceweather.gov/, the U.S. government’s official source for space weather forecasts, watches, warnings, and alerts. 

NASA works as a research arm of the nation’s space weather effort. NASA observes the Sun and our space environment constantly with a fleet of spacecraft that study everything from the Sun’s activity to the solar atmosphere, and to the particles and magnetic fields in the space surrounding Earth.

Image Credit: NASA/SDO/GSFC
Release Date: Feb. 5, 2026

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