Dr. Ryan French
@ryanjfrench.bsky.social
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 ☀️
My first book, ‘The Sun: beginners guide to our local star’, published last year ☀️
The Sun has produced another X-class #SolarFlare (the strongest category). This active region will continue facing Earth for a few more days!
We await further data to determine if the flare sent an eruption our way.
We await further data to determine if the flare sent an eruption our way.
February 3, 2026 at 3:02 PM
The Sun has produced another X-class #SolarFlare (the strongest category). This active region will continue facing Earth for a few more days!
We await further data to determine if the flare sent an eruption our way.
We await further data to determine if the flare sent an eruption our way.
Where do solar flares come from? Just as earthquakes are the release of built up frictional energy along fault lines, solar flares are the release of built up magnetic energy above sunspots. This week, complex magnetic field mixing = strong flare chances! (See Earth for scale).
February 2, 2026 at 8:54 PM
Where do solar flares come from? Just as earthquakes are the release of built up frictional energy along fault lines, solar flares are the release of built up magnetic energy above sunspots. This week, complex magnetic field mixing = strong flare chances! (See Earth for scale).
This movie shows the past 24 hours in active region AR 14366 – the area responsible for the recent strong solar flares! This wavelength shows cooler (1 million °C) plasma, revealing how dynamic the coronal magnetic field is right now. This region has many more flares to give!
February 2, 2026 at 7:05 PM
This movie shows the past 24 hours in active region AR 14366 – the area responsible for the recent strong solar flares! This wavelength shows cooler (1 million °C) plasma, revealing how dynamic the coronal magnetic field is right now. This region has many more flares to give!
Today’s large (X8.1-class) #SolarFlare produced a dense, slow moving eruption – but not the rapid coronal mass ejection that aurora chasers were hoping for. Much of the material falls back to the Sun, dense enough to appear near-opaque (‘optically-thick’) at some wavelengths!
February 2, 2026 at 2:49 AM
Today’s large (X8.1-class) #SolarFlare produced a dense, slow moving eruption – but not the rapid coronal mass ejection that aurora chasers were hoping for. Much of the material falls back to the Sun, dense enough to appear near-opaque (‘optically-thick’) at some wavelengths!
After an hour of near X-class flare levels, the Sun is calming down (for now). This active region is not finished however, with further strong X-class flares inevitable at this point!
February 2, 2026 at 1:42 AM
After an hour of near X-class flare levels, the Sun is calming down (for now). This active region is not finished however, with further strong X-class flares inevitable at this point!
A significant #SolarFlare is currently underway on the Sun! The flare was so bright, it has caused saturation and diffraction patterns in images captured by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory. Early data also seems to suggest the flare was eruptive.
February 2, 2026 at 12:24 AM
A significant #SolarFlare is currently underway on the Sun! The flare was so bright, it has caused saturation and diffraction patterns in images captured by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory. Early data also seems to suggest the flare was eruptive.
My jaw has hit the floor. The second strongest Earth-facing #SolarFlare since 2017 is currently underway on the Sun! X8.0-class levels exceeded.
February 2, 2026 at 12:03 AM
My jaw has hit the floor. The second strongest Earth-facing #SolarFlare since 2017 is currently underway on the Sun! X8.0-class levels exceeded.
Solar activity has really picked up on February 1st! With many moderate (M-class) flares from active region AR14366, and one event surpassing the X-class threshold (X1.04) – further strong flaring is likely over the next few days.
February 1, 2026 at 5:14 PM
Solar activity has really picked up on February 1st! With many moderate (M-class) flares from active region AR14366, and one event surpassing the X-class threshold (X1.04) – further strong flaring is likely over the next few days.
BREAKING: This is Richard Carrington, the first person to document solar flares on the Sun & suggest their influence on aurora at Earth. The largest solar storm on record, the Carrington Event, bares his name. But, there has been no photograph available of Carrington – until now!
January 31, 2026 at 10:20 PM
BREAKING: This is Richard Carrington, the first person to document solar flares on the Sun & suggest their influence on aurora at Earth. The largest solar storm on record, the Carrington Event, bares his name. But, there has been no photograph available of Carrington – until now!
Reposted by Dr. Ryan French
I've seen some fantastic northern lights photos this evening! If anybody is interested in learning how to take the best aurora photos possible with an iPhone – I've created a short tutorial: youtu.be/4VnNM3s_e1o
January 20, 2026 at 12:04 AM
I've seen some fantastic northern lights photos this evening! If anybody is interested in learning how to take the best aurora photos possible with an iPhone – I've created a short tutorial: youtu.be/4VnNM3s_e1o
I've seen some fantastic northern lights photos this evening! If anybody is interested in learning how to take the best aurora photos possible with an iPhone – I've created a short tutorial: youtu.be/4VnNM3s_e1o
January 20, 2026 at 12:04 AM
I've seen some fantastic northern lights photos this evening! If anybody is interested in learning how to take the best aurora photos possible with an iPhone – I've created a short tutorial: youtu.be/4VnNM3s_e1o
From my mother-in-law in Norfolk, UK! UK/Europe – get outside now!
January 19, 2026 at 10:25 PM
From my mother-in-law in Norfolk, UK! UK/Europe – get outside now!
Happy aurora hunting everyone! I’ve already seen some stunning northern lights photos from the UK and Germany.
January 19, 2026 at 9:36 PM
Happy aurora hunting everyone! I’ve already seen some stunning northern lights photos from the UK and Germany.
Reposted by Dr. Ryan French
Colorado: Our best bet to see the storm will be just after sunset tonight. Look north around ~5:30-5:45p. Fingers crossed this holds until sunset tonight!
Solar storm is ongoing - fingers crossed this holds until sunset! If so, should be a great show.
#COwx
Solar storm is ongoing - fingers crossed this holds until sunset! If so, should be a great show.
#COwx
We are currently experiencing a severe (G4) geomagnetic storm! This is in addition to the severe solar radiation storm already ongoing.
(Now would be a hilarious time for the Sun to throw out another large flare, to cause the simultaneous trinity of space weather effects).
(Now would be a hilarious time for the Sun to throw out another large flare, to cause the simultaneous trinity of space weather effects).
January 19, 2026 at 8:46 PM
Colorado: Our best bet to see the storm will be just after sunset tonight. Look north around ~5:30-5:45p. Fingers crossed this holds until sunset tonight!
Solar storm is ongoing - fingers crossed this holds until sunset! If so, should be a great show.
#COwx
Solar storm is ongoing - fingers crossed this holds until sunset! If so, should be a great show.
#COwx
With the severe geomagnetic & solar radiation activity ongoing, have you wondered how strong these events need to be to cause damage? Has this happened in the past? I’d be silly not to use tonight’s hype to promote my new book, ‘Space Hazards’, which explores these questions!
January 19, 2026 at 8:50 PM
With the severe geomagnetic & solar radiation activity ongoing, have you wondered how strong these events need to be to cause damage? Has this happened in the past? I’d be silly not to use tonight’s hype to promote my new book, ‘Space Hazards’, which explores these questions!
We are currently experiencing a severe (G4) geomagnetic storm! This is in addition to the severe solar radiation storm already ongoing.
(Now would be a hilarious time for the Sun to throw out another large flare, to cause the simultaneous trinity of space weather effects).
(Now would be a hilarious time for the Sun to throw out another large flare, to cause the simultaneous trinity of space weather effects).
January 19, 2026 at 8:13 PM
We are currently experiencing a severe (G4) geomagnetic storm! This is in addition to the severe solar radiation storm already ongoing.
(Now would be a hilarious time for the Sun to throw out another large flare, to cause the simultaneous trinity of space weather effects).
(Now would be a hilarious time for the Sun to throw out another large flare, to cause the simultaneous trinity of space weather effects).
Reposted by Dr. Ryan French
With all the strong geomagnetic activity ongoing tonight, have you ever wondered how strong these events need to be to cause some damage? Has this happened in the past? I’d be silly not to use tonight’s hype to promote my new book, ‘Space Hazards’, which explores these questions!
November 12, 2025 at 6:34 AM
With all the strong geomagnetic activity ongoing tonight, have you ever wondered how strong these events need to be to cause some damage? Has this happened in the past? I’d be silly not to use tonight’s hype to promote my new book, ‘Space Hazards’, which explores these questions!
Okay, this is kind of crazy! We’re currently experiencing the first severe (S4) Solar Radiation storm since 2003! Many are familiar with solar flares and geomagnetic storms, but solar radiation storms are the third category of space weather that rarely get public hype.
January 19, 2026 at 6:34 PM
Okay, this is kind of crazy! We’re currently experiencing the first severe (S4) Solar Radiation storm since 2003! Many are familiar with solar flares and geomagnetic storms, but solar radiation storms are the third category of space weather that rarely get public hype.
The Sun just produced a truly spectacular #SolarFlare! Although its flare classification (defined by its peak brightness at X-ray wavelengths) is not huge (X1.95), the physical volume of the flare is the biggest I’ve seen in a long time. Earth-directed too. What an event – wow!
January 18, 2026 at 11:32 PM
The Sun just produced a truly spectacular #SolarFlare! Although its flare classification (defined by its peak brightness at X-ray wavelengths) is not huge (X1.95), the physical volume of the flare is the biggest I’ve seen in a long time. Earth-directed too. What an event – wow!
The first X-class #SolarFlare of 2026 is currently underway on the Sun! Earth-facing active region AR 14341 is the source, but we must await further data to determine if the event was eruptive. A resulting R3 radio blackout is currently occurring at Earth.
January 18, 2026 at 5:59 PM
The first X-class #SolarFlare of 2026 is currently underway on the Sun! Earth-facing active region AR 14341 is the source, but we must await further data to determine if the event was eruptive. A resulting R3 radio blackout is currently occurring at Earth.
Last night this gorgeous filament of plasma erupted from the backside of the Sun! What a beauty.
January 15, 2026 at 2:13 AM
Last night this gorgeous filament of plasma erupted from the backside of the Sun! What a beauty.
The Sun is joined by three planets in the sky this week. Can you guess what they are before opening the thread?
January 14, 2026 at 4:10 PM
The Sun is joined by three planets in the sky this week. Can you guess what they are before opening the thread?
Last night’s moderate #SolarFlare likely released more energy than the majority of larger X-class events. Why? Flare classifications are determined by the flare’s *peak* emission. Although last night’s flare capped at an M3 level, it continued releasing energy for over 12 hours!
January 12, 2026 at 2:58 PM
Last night’s moderate #SolarFlare likely released more energy than the majority of larger X-class events. Why? Flare classifications are determined by the flare’s *peak* emission. Although last night’s flare capped at an M3 level, it continued releasing energy for over 12 hours!
The Sun produced nineteen X-class solar flares in 2025, down from 50+ in 2024. Out of these 19, only five were above the X2.0 level (compared with twenty in 2024)! Here is a video showing the top ten strongest flares from last year.
January 12, 2026 at 2:34 AM
The Sun produced nineteen X-class solar flares in 2025, down from 50+ in 2024. Out of these 19, only five were above the X2.0 level (compared with twenty in 2024)! Here is a video showing the top ten strongest flares from last year.
11 days into the new year, and the Sun finally produced the first notable #SolarFlare of 2026. It was a moderate flare, reaching an M3.3-class! The active region responsible for this flare will be rotating to face Earth in coming days, so further solar activity is likely.
January 12, 2026 at 1:00 AM
11 days into the new year, and the Sun finally produced the first notable #SolarFlare of 2026. It was a moderate flare, reaching an M3.3-class! The active region responsible for this flare will be rotating to face Earth in coming days, so further solar activity is likely.