• Sudden, shocking release of energy and matter from an active region

• Emits electromagnetic radiation, energetic particles, shock waves, and wave motions into space

• Most radiation emitted as x-rays

• Accelerates charged particles to near the speed of light

• Heats matter to tens of millions of degrees Kelvin

• Last from minutes to hours

This SOHO image shows the largest solar flare on record. The sun is blocked out by the dark central disk, so that a photo of the solar corona can be taken. On the right, we see the massive flare shooting outward from the sun.