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Dr. Ryan French

@RyanJFrench • 13,871 subscribers

Solar astrophysicist | author | speaker ☀️ I research the Sun for a living. Let's talk about it! ☀️ Solar flares • aurora • eclipses 📚 *Space Hazards* out now

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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:

241,824 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

179,052 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. ☀️

190,570 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

Even small solar flares can be beautiful. Here is a video of today’s moderate #SolarFlare, displaying mesmerising ‘coronal rain’ and ‘supra-arcade downflows’!

Even small solar flares can be beautiful. Here is a video of today’s moderate #SolarFlare, displaying mesmerising ‘coronal rain’ and ‘supra-arcade downflows’!

15,348 views

The Sun has really woken up over the past 48 hours, producing multiple solar flares (including an “X-class” event), across 4 different regions. Further large flares are likely in the coming days!

The Sun has really woken up over the past 48 hours, producing multiple solar flares (including an “X-class” event), across 4 different regions. Further large flares are likely in the coming days!

21,357 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

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

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!

26,681 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)

54,081 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

Yesterday’s near X-class #SolarFlare (M9.75-class) produced a clear CME and solar radiation storm (causing the fuzzy noise shown in the data). The CME is expected to arrive Monday, with a G2 geomagnetic storm currently predicted. #spaceweather #astronomy

Yesterday’s near X-class #SolarFlare (M9.75-class) produced a clear CME and solar radiation storm (causing the fuzzy noise shown in the data). The CME is expected to arrive Monday, with a G2 geomagnetic storm currently predicted. #spaceweather #astronomy

22,984 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!

10,273 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
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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

Dr. Ryan French

596,281 views • 2 years 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
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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

55,681 views • 2 years 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
0:30
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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

25,440 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!
0:30
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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

10,202 views • 5 months ago

Here’s a multi-wavelength view of tonight’s X2.5-class #SolarFlare. This is the strongest flare we’ve seen for 78 days.
0:21
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Here’s a multi-wavelength view of tonight’s X2.5-class #SolarFlare. This is the strongest flare we’ve seen for 78 days.

Dr. Ryan French

10,517 views • 6 months ago

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