The sun
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![large arcs of fire reach out from the fiery surface of the sun](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/N32LTRgvTbFzcr5kXdCAC9-320-80.jpg)
Astrophotographer gets close-up look at monster sunspot that led to May's global auroras
By Miguel Claro published
Astrophotographer Miguel Claro explains how he captured this incredible image of the sun's surface that includes the giant sunspot AR3664 that led to May's widespread auroras.
![graphic showing two hands typing on a laptop screen with a large image of the northern lights on the screen.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3pHgKP6J6LLYLhbgNjrWVZ-320-80.jpg)
More people Googled 'northern lights' in May 2024 than in any other month in history
By Ryan French published
Public interest in the sun was at an all-time high in May. Here we explore why this was the case.
![a close up still image of the sun showing a huge fiery looking tendril lashing out from the sun.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5GvEkkGPD3DnZZxsioca3i-320-80.jpg)
Sun unleashes giant plasma plume and reels it back in apparent 'failed eruption' (video)
By Daisy Dobrijevic published
Watch the moment a huge plasma plume is fired out from the sun and then reeled back in during M-class solar flare eruption.
![close up image of the sun's surface shows huge fiery looking tendrils reaching out from the surface of the sun as giant loops of plasma frolic above the solar surface.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mbFB6i7aNQGMd8HNFsqCiP-320-80.jpg)
Astrophotographer captures stunning close-up views of sunspot region that spawned May's auroras
By Daisy Dobrijevic published
Check out these incredible close-up views of emerging sunspot AR3697 as it turns to face Earth. The scenes were captured by astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy from his backyard in Arizona.
![gif animation showing a bright solar flare erupting from the lower left region of the sun.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BbfKuS8o6aWfb8GZhuqakh-320-80.gif)
Double trouble: Sun unleashes 2 powerful X-class solar flares in 12 hours (video)
By Daisy Dobrijevic published
Two X-class solar flares erupted from the sun in less than 12 hours as a magnetically complex sunspot begins to face Earth.
![An illustration of the sun is in the background. In front of the sun, there's a solar-winged spacecraft.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KuSDFUQZvWEKJyikdqV2xg-320-80.jpg)
Solar Orbiter traces solar wind back to its mysterious source for 1st time
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
The European Space Agency's Solar Orbiter has, for the first time, traced solar wind in space to a specific location on our sun's surface.
![a bright white explosion of light erupts from the swirling surface of the sun in a green false-color image](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cgSRkqwh3wrihH5Zm5Ksod-320-80.jpg)
Massive sunspot responsible for May's epic auroras unleashes major X-class solar flare (video)
By Daisy Dobrijevic published
Sunspot region AR3697 has returned — unleashing yet another X-class solar flare. Watch it erupt from the sun's eastern limb here.
![two panel image on the left the sunspot is visible on the limb of the sun as a dark patch against a monochrome sun and on the right it is flaring with large fiery looking plasma loops of yellow.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3VozEfrf3jqaMnAVenHvwN-320-80.jpg)
That giant sunspot that supercharged auroras on Earth? It's back and may amp up the northern lights with June solar storms.
By Ryan French published
Old sunspot region AR 13664, now renamed AR 13697, is back. With its re-arrival, can we expect a resurgence of solar activity?
![a huge fiery expulsion erupts from the sun. Large loops and swirls of bright light dance around the southeastern limb of the sun.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kGzZ77svBVVotBFcGrwinT-320-80.jpg)
Colossal X-class solar flare suggests return of sunspot group that fueled May's epic auroras (video)
By Daisy Dobrijevic published
X-flare eruption hints at the return of the powerful sunspot group behind May's solar storms. Watch the solar eruption here.
![(Left) An image of the sun emitting a bright solar flare (right) the sun's magnetic fields over an image of our star captured by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6R4oeNbw6bvd4R4b8s8oDF-320-80.png)
Scientists find weird link between a solar mystery and feeding black holes
By Robert Lea published
The solar dynamo that drives sunspots and solar flares could be located near the surface of the sun scientists find, solving a 400-year-old solar mystery and providing a weird link to black holes.
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