A strong X1.9 solar flare erupted from the sun's surface at 9:49 p.m. ET on Nov. 30, and NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory caught it in action. The flare appears as a bright flash on the Sun’s edge, followed by a plume of hot material rising into space. Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy. They can disturb radio communications, affect navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts — which is why NASA and NOAA track them so closely. Credit: NASA/SDO | Space 360

The Sun was caught on camera ripping apart a structure on its surface that was about to erupt. Instead of erupting from the Sun, the filament collapsed, shredded to pieces by invisible magnetic forces. Learn why: http://go.nasa.gov/2hSmYeM | NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Our Sun's swirling flow This NASA supercomputer simulation shows the strength of the turbulent motions of the Sun’s inner layers as materials twist into its atmosphere. The more saturated and bright reds represent the most vigorous upward or downward twisting motions. Clear areas represent areas where there are only relatively slow up-flows, with very little twisting. The data-driven animation helps scientists better understand the Sun and what phenomena drive the patterns of its activity. Learn