1 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:13,233 On October 28, 2021, NOAA's GOES satellites watched the Sun as it unleashed a powerful solar flare. 2 00:00:13,233 --> 00:00:24,866 GOES East captured the event with its Solar Ultraviolet Imager. 3 00:00:28,166 --> 00:00:35,466 The flare produced an aurora that was visible in parts of the continental United States 4 00:00:35,466 --> 00:00:45,666 Meanwhile, JPSS satellites captured nighttime images of the aurora with the VIIRS Day-Night band. 5 00:00:48,566 --> 00:00:58,166 The Sun goes through a cycle of incresaing and decreasing activity that lasts around 11 years. 6 00:00:58,166 --> 00:01:04,900 The solar minimum, where it was least active, occurred in December of 2019. 7 00:01:04,900 --> 00:01:12,766 This means the Sun's activity has been ramping up and should peak around 2025. 8 00:01:13,133 --> 00:01:20,066 As the Sun reaches solar maximum, there will be more geomagnetic activity, increasing the chance for stronger solar storms. 9 00:01:20,066 --> 00:01:25,666 After this peak, activity will decrease, and a new cycle will begin. 10 00:01:25,666 --> 00:01:36,533 NOAA's GOES satellites help monitor the activity of the Sun and when solar flares or coronal mass ejections occur. 11 00:01:36,533 --> 00:01:42,566 While flares can trigger spectacular shows of dancing lights, 12 00:01:42,566 --> 00:01:48,200 solar storms also have the potential to disrupt satellite communications and GPS signals. 13 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:56,333 As Solar Cycle 25 moves toward the solar maximum, NOAA's GOES satellites will continue to monitor the Sun's activity. 14 00:01:56,333 --> 00:01:57,833 Earth from Orbit: Solar Flare Erupts 15 00:01:57,833 --> 00:01:59,366 SUVI imagery courtesy of CIRES and additional imagery provided by CIMSS. 16 00:01:59,366 --> 00:02:00,333 NOAA Logo 17 00:02:00,333 --> 00:02:01,333 NASA Meatball 18 00:02:01,333 --> 00:02:02,333 CIRA Logo