The Sun emitted two strong solar flares, the first peaking at 9:07pm ET on April 23 and the second peaking at 4:13am ET on April 24. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured images of the events, which were classified as X2.4 and X2.5: Solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation. Harmful radiation from a flare cannot pass through Earth’s atmosphere to physically affect humans on the ground. However — when intense enough — they can disturb the atmosphere in the layer where GPS & communications signals travel. To see how such space weather may affect Earth, check out @NWSSWPC, the U.S. government’s official source for space weather forecasts, watches, warnings, and alerts.

Check out this six-year-old boy! He stuns the crowd with fancy Thomas flares and is packed with a chiseled eight-pack of abs! The word "health" is literally etched into his physique! If the youth are strong, the nation will be strong. #Fitness# #StreetDance# #Muscles# #FloorMoves#

⚽ World Cup safety tip: Celebrate proudly. Celebrate safely. 🚫 Fireworks are illegal in Massachusetts. Do not bring or use fireworks, flares, smoke devices, or pyrotechnics at World Cup matches, fan events, celebrations, transportation areas, or public spaces. 🎆 Leave fireworks to licensed professionals. 🤝 Help keep the World Cup safe and welcoming for fans, residents, visitors, workers, and public safety personnel. Safety + health: Event + venue: #MatchReadyMA#

⚽ Match day reminder: Be Match Ready before heading to Boston Stadium. ⏰ Leave early and allow extra time. 🎒 Pack light and check bag rules before you go. 🚫 Leave drones, fireworks, flares, and pyrotechnics at home. 📲 Use official sources for safety, health, event, venue, and transportation guidance. Safety + health: Event + venue: #MatchReadyMA#

It’s #SunDay#! Here’s your space weather report for the week of May 15 - 21: • 4 M-class flares • 3 C-class flares • 35 coronal mass ejections • 1 geomagnetic storm This video from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) shows the week’s activity. It was a fairly calm week on the Sun. A coronal mass ejection last week reached Earth on May 15, triggering a minor geomagnetic storm and leading to aurora sightings across the northern U.S. On May 20, SDO's Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) paused normal science operations for a series of routine calibration maneuvers — measurements that keep the instrument's magnetic field and Doppler velocity data scientifically accurate. You can see these maneuvers starting at about 2:29 in the video. Learn more about space weather: