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Dr. Ryan French

@RyanJFrench • 13,811 subscribers

British Solar Astrophysicist at @LASPatCU ☀️ My new book, ‘Space Hazards’, is out now! - (views my own)

Shorts

Yesterday’s moderately-sized (M8-class) #SolarFlare produced a massive eruption (a coronal mass ejection), currently en route to Earth. Forecasters have issued a ‘severe’ geomagnetic storm watch (G4 on G1-5 scale). Expect to see misinformation about this, so here are some facts:

Yesterday’s moderately-sized (M8-class) #SolarFlare produced a massive eruption (a coronal mass ejection), currently en route to Earth. Forecasters have issued a ‘severe’ geomagnetic storm watch (G4 on G1-5 scale). Expect to see misinformation about this, so here are some facts:

240,850 views

The second of today’s X-class solar flares was truly a long-duration event. Where typical flares last 10s of minutes, this event took over 6 hours. The flare also showed a fundamental part of solar flares: a ‘current sheet’. #spaceweather 1/5

The second of today’s X-class solar flares was truly a long-duration event. Where typical flares last 10s of minutes, this event took over 6 hours. The flare also showed a fundamental part of solar flares: a ‘current sheet’. #spaceweather 1/5

178,863 views

Absolutely insane! Yesterday's X1.1 class #SolarFlare was observed in high resolution by the NASA IRIS mission. IRIS observes with a small field-of-view, so catching the largest flares is rare. But just look at this, I haven't seen a flare observation this cool in a long time. ☀️

Absolutely insane! Yesterday's X1.1 class #SolarFlare was observed in high resolution by the NASA IRIS mission. IRIS observes with a small field-of-view, so catching the largest flares is rare. But just look at this, I haven't seen a flare observation this cool in a long time. ☀️

190,422 views

Thursday’s X9 #SolarFlare was captured by the NASA IRIS mission! IRIS observes the Sun with much higher resolution than the flare images you typically see, but over a small region. It can also observe the flare core without saturating the images! #astronomy #spaceweather

Thursday’s X9 #SolarFlare was captured by the NASA IRIS mission! IRIS observes the Sun with much higher resolution than the flare images you typically see, but over a small region. It can also observe the flare core without saturating the images! #astronomy #spaceweather

104,601 views

Last night’s moderate #SolarFlare likely released more energy than the majority of larger X-class events. Why? Flare classifications are determined by the flare’s *peak* emission. Although last night’s flare capped at an M3 level, it continued releasing energy for over 12 hours!

Last night’s moderate #SolarFlare likely released more energy than the majority of larger X-class events. Why? Flare classifications are determined by the flare’s peak emission. Although last night’s flare capped at an M3 level, it continued releasing energy for over 12 hours!

32,003 views

This movie shows the past 24 hours in active region AR 14366 – the area responsible for the recent strong solar flares! This wavelength shows cooler (1 million °C) plasma, revealing how dynamic the coronal magnetic field is right now. This region has many more flares to give!

This movie shows the past 24 hours in active region AR 14366 – the area responsible for the recent strong solar flares! This wavelength shows cooler (1 million °C) plasma, revealing how dynamic the coronal magnetic field is right now. This region has many more flares to give!

26,316 views

A photogenic eruption of plasma from the Sun’s backside! (Yesterday). Gorgeous stuff!

A photogenic eruption of plasma from the Sun’s backside! (Yesterday). Gorgeous stuff!

40,061 views

Two differing views of tonight’s ongoing long-duration #SolarFlare, which sat for nearly 4 hours above M-class levels. It appears that an initial filament eruption triggered a much larger event! #spaceweather (data: AIA/SUVI/LASCO)

Two differing views of tonight’s ongoing long-duration #SolarFlare, which sat for nearly 4 hours above M-class levels. It appears that an initial filament eruption triggered a much larger event! #spaceweather (data: AIA/SUVI/LASCO)

83,981 views

Yesterday the Sun produced this moderate-class #SolarFlare. Despite its smaller size, it was a long duration event, continuing for several hours and providing this hypnotic view of beautiful coronal rain (seen in yellow) and Supra-arcade Downflows (seen in cyan). Mesmerising!

Yesterday the Sun produced this moderate-class #SolarFlare. Despite its smaller size, it was a long duration event, continuing for several hours and providing this hypnotic view of beautiful coronal rain (seen in yellow) and Supra-arcade Downflows (seen in cyan). Mesmerising!

26,867 views

A series of monster eruptions on the east-edge of the Sun today. These active regions will continue to rotate towards us in the coming days - so let’s see if the activity continues! #spaceweather (data: LASCO & SUVI)

A series of monster eruptions on the east-edge of the Sun today. These active regions will continue to rotate towards us in the coming days - so let’s see if the activity continues! #spaceweather (data: LASCO & SUVI)

54,070 views

The entire month of September 2025 on the Sun! The month saw some strong coronal hole and geomagnetic storm action, but lacked significant solar flare activity. #spaceweather #astronomy

The entire month of September 2025 on the Sun! The month saw some strong coronal hole and geomagnetic storm action, but lacked significant solar flare activity. #spaceweather #astronomy

19,643 views

The entirety of January 2025 in the Sun’s atmosphere! January had the lowest sunspot numbers since April 2024, and very few sizeable flares. No doubt this solar cycle has much more activity to come, but have we now passed the peak of solar max? (Or will we get an another spike?)

The entirety of January 2025 in the Sun’s atmosphere! January had the lowest sunspot numbers since April 2024, and very few sizeable flares. No doubt this solar cycle has much more activity to come, but have we now passed the peak of solar max? (Or will we get an another spike?)

29,029 views

The entirety of November 2025 on the Sun! Despite strong solar flares and severe geomagnetic storms, last month saw a low sunspot count – with the second lowest monthly total since November 2022 (with half of the sunspots present in July/August 2024).

The entirety of November 2025 on the Sun! Despite strong solar flares and severe geomagnetic storms, last month saw a low sunspot count – with the second lowest monthly total since November 2022 (with half of the sunspots present in July/August 2024).

14,151 views

A large (non Earth-directed) eruption of filament plasma! Filament eruptions are different to flare-driven CMEs, and do not require an active region as their source. Look at how much the filament expands on its journey off the Sun! #spaceweather

A large (non Earth-directed) eruption of filament plasma! Filament eruptions are different to flare-driven CMEs, and do not require an active region as their source. Look at how much the filament expands on its journey off the Sun! #spaceweather

18,599 views

My recent research has been published in the Astrophysical Journal! We investigate extremely coherent periodic oscillations within a #SolarFlare (pictured below), co-observed by the ESA Solar Orbiter and NASA IRIS missions. 1/10

My recent research has been published in the Astrophysical Journal! We investigate extremely coherent periodic oscillations within a #SolarFlare (pictured below), co-observed by the ESA Solar Orbiter and NASA IRIS missions. 1/10

13,646 views

The entire month of May 2025 in the Sun’s atmosphere. Although the Sun produced a few large solar flares, sunspot numbers were the lowest we’ve seen since August 2022. We are likely now slowly moving towards solar minimum, but we still expect large flares throughout this decline!

The entire month of May 2025 in the Sun’s atmosphere. Although the Sun produced a few large solar flares, sunspot numbers were the lowest we’ve seen since August 2022. We are likely now slowly moving towards solar minimum, but we still expect large flares throughout this decline!

10,255 views

A series of small blowouts (across 12 hours) from the new active region on the Sun’s western edge yesterday! This region is producing a lot of moderate solar flares, and rotating to face Earth in the coming days. #spaceweather

A series of small blowouts (across 12 hours) from the new active region on the Sun’s western edge yesterday! This region is producing a lot of moderate solar flares, and rotating to face Earth in the coming days. #spaceweather

11,861 views

Double trouble! Over the past few hours, two *significantly*-sized coronal mass ejections erupted from the back side of the Sun. Are the two eruptions directed related, or just a coincidence? Sadly we have no spacecraft behind the Sun to answer that question. #astronomy

Double trouble! Over the past few hours, two significantly-sized coronal mass ejections erupted from the back side of the Sun. Are the two eruptions directed related, or just a coincidence? Sadly we have no spacecraft behind the Sun to answer that question. #astronomy

10,974 views

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The full evolution of today’s mesmerising #SolarFlare, which continued for over 12 hours! This is a very long duration event, as most flares are over well within an hour of onset. Just look at those flare loops grow! Awe-some stuff. #spaceweather #astronomy

The full evolution of today’s mesmerising #SolarFlare, which continued for over 12 hours! This is a very long duration event, as most flares are over well within an hour of onset. Just look at those flare loops grow! Awe-some stuff. #spaceweather #astronomy

Dr. Ryan French

594,943 views • 1 year ago

Here is a unique view of a solar flare, captured by the NASA IRIS space telescope last month. We’re used to seeing ‘saturated’ images of flares, but this movie shows an unsaturated view of solar flare heating and plasma motions in the lower solar atmosphere!

Here is a unique view of a solar flare, captured by the NASA IRIS space telescope last month. We’re used to seeing ‘saturated’ images of flares, but this movie shows an unsaturated view of solar flare heating and plasma motions in the lower solar atmosphere!

Dr. Ryan French

10,157 views • 24 days ago

Wow, mesmerizing #SolarFlare activity from the Sun last night! This movie shows the flare in ultraviolet light, combining images from two filters to show both 1 mil °C (red) and 10 mil °C (cyan) plasma in the Sun’s atmosphere. Absolutely beautiful! #astronomy #spaceweather

Wow, mesmerizing #SolarFlare activity from the Sun last night! This movie shows the flare in ultraviolet light, combining images from two filters to show both 1 mil °C (red) and 10 mil °C (cyan) plasma in the Sun’s atmosphere. Absolutely beautiful! #astronomy #spaceweather

Dr. Ryan French

55,655 views • 1 year ago

An expanded view of yesterday’s impressive #SolarFlare and coronal mass ejection. The video shows timelapses of data from SDO, SUVI, and SOHO respectively, each revealing mesmerising views of different plasma physics processes! An impressive event. #spaceweather

An expanded view of yesterday’s impressive #SolarFlare and coronal mass ejection. The video shows timelapses of data from SDO, SUVI, and SOHO respectively, each revealing mesmerising views of different plasma physics processes! An impressive event. #spaceweather

Dr. Ryan French

25,254 views • 1 year ago

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