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Dr. Ryan French

@ryanjfrench.bsky.social

3.2K followers 140 following 310 posts

British Solar Astrophysicist at the Laboratory of Atmospheric & Space Physics ☀️ Author of ‘Space Hazards’ and 'The Sun: Beginner’s Guide to Our Local Star' - (views my own)

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Dr. Ryan French @ryanjfrench.bsky.social · Dec 12

I feel it’s time I formally introduce myself on this app! I'm a Sun scientist researching solar flares - and value the importance of communicating the facts (and combating the fiction) of that science to the world.

My first book, ‘The Sun: beginners guide to our local star’, published last year ☀️

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Dr. Ryan French @ryanjfrench.bsky.social · 1d

Active region AR 14246 on the Sun has woken up over the past 24 hours, producing four moderate (M-class) solar flares. The region will soon rotate out of the Earth-strike zone, but certainly has the potential to trigger much stronger (X-class) solar flare events.

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Dr. Ryan French @ryanjfrench.bsky.social · 1d

A series of mesmerising filament eruptions from the Sun tonight! These particular events are not Earth-directed, but beautiful to watch.

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Dr. Ryan French @ryanjfrench.bsky.social · 1d

No, this is from SDO/AIA and SUVI/GOES – processed by myself!

Dr. Ryan French @ryanjfrench.bsky.social · 2d

In 2024, the Sun reached the peak of its 11-year solar cycle. Over the year, the Sun produced hundreds of notable solar flares and coronal mass ejections! ☀️

I have uploaded a 13-minute YouTube video presenting the highlights of those events! Enjoy. youtu.be/WJxuxAA82uI?...

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Dr. Ryan French @ryanjfrench.bsky.social · 2d

If you want to learn more about the solar cycle and its impact on our technological infrastructure – check out my new book ‘Space Hazards’! (Available now in Europe, and for pre-order in North America).

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Dr. Ryan French @ryanjfrench.bsky.social · 2d

Sunspot numbers are on track with the downward trend predicted by our progression into solar minimum.

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Dr. Ryan French @ryanjfrench.bsky.social · 2d

The entire month of September 2025 on the Sun! The month saw some strong coronal hole and geomagnetic storm action, but lacked significant solar flare activity. #spaceweather #astronomy

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Dr. Ryan French @ryanjfrench.bsky.social · 13d

A filament eruption is a type of CME! The other type of CME comes from eruptive solar flares. This event is the former!

Dr. Ryan French @ryanjfrench.bsky.social · 14d

A stunning eruption of filament plasma from the Sun’s western edge today! Cool stuff – (literally, relatively speaking).

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Dr. Ryan French @ryanjfrench.bsky.social · 14d

Like storm clouds rolling over the horizon, a series of new active regions have rotated into view on the Sun this week. So far we’ve seen 10 moderate solar flares in 5 days, with the chance of stronger flares possible. #spaceweather

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Dr. Ryan French @ryanjfrench.bsky.social · 20d

(Data from GOES/SUVI)

Dr. Ryan French @ryanjfrench.bsky.social · 20d

An epic double eruption from opposite ends of the Sun this week! Truly beautiful.

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Dr. Ryan French @ryanjfrench.bsky.social · Sep 13

Only about a mountain’s worth, believe it or not!

Dr. Ryan French @ryanjfrench.bsky.social · Sep 13

If you want to learn more about solar activity and its past/potential influences on our society, then I recommend my new book, ‘Space Hazards’, which has just published!

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Dr. Ryan French @ryanjfrench.bsky.social · Sep 13

Data from GOES/SUVI and SOHO/LASCO!

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Dr. Ryan French @ryanjfrench.bsky.social · Sep 13

The inner Sun is GOES/SUVI, and outer corona SOHO/LASCO

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Dr. Ryan French @ryanjfrench.bsky.social · Sep 13

A photogenic eruption of plasma from the Sun’s backside! (Yesterday). Gorgeous stuff!

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Dr. Ryan French @ryanjfrench.bsky.social · Sep 9

There is a GIANT HOLE in the Sun’s atmosphere! But don’t worry, this is perfectly normal. ‘Coronal holes’ are low density regions of the Sun’s atmosphere, where the solar wind is able to escape quickly (700 km per second).

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Dr. Ryan French @ryanjfrench.bsky.social · Sep 9

One thing about solar flares, is that they’ll always look FANTASTIC as a slide background for public talks.

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Reposted by Dr. Ryan French

Dr. Ryan French @ryanjfrench.bsky.social · Aug 25

My new book exists! I’m thrilled to have received the first physical copies of ‘Space Hazards’, which publishes in 17 days! If anyone is interested in astronomy and/or its intersection with society, then this book is for you.

Available to pre-order now, from all good bookshops!

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Dr. Ryan French @ryanjfrench.bsky.social · Sep 7

A British experience of the lunar eclipse

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Dr. Ryan French @ryanjfrench.bsky.social · Sep 3

The full month of August 2025 on the Sun. It was very much a month of two halves, with activity visually increasing significantly towards the end! However, the surge in activity didn’t produce the expected increase in solar flares.

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Dr. Ryan French @ryanjfrench.bsky.social · Sep 1

August 2025 saw sunspot levels at a four month high, but still lower than the other 13 of the past 7 months. August had a month of two halves, with sunspot levels quadrupling between the middle and end of the month! Let’s hope the current resurgence of solar activity continues.

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Dr. Ryan French @ryanjfrench.bsky.social · Aug 31

The current prediction from NOAA is a moderate-to-strong geomagnetic storm on 1-2 Sept.

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Dr. Ryan French @ryanjfrench.bsky.social · Aug 31

Sorry, was sleeping! Models currently predict a G2/G3 event arriving around Sept 1-2nd.