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Dr. Ryan French

@ryanjfrench.bsky.social

3.2K followers 140 following 300 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 · 7d

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 · 8d

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 · 8d

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 · 14d

(Data from GOES/SUVI)

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

Data from GOES/SUVI and SOHO/LASCO!

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

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

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

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

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Dr. Ryan French @ryanjfrench.bsky.social · 29d

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 · 29d

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.

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

I think the far-sided event was from the larger region to the south!

Dr. Ryan French @ryanjfrench.bsky.social · Aug 30

An Earth-facing #SolarFlare has just launched a coronal mass ejection towards Earth. The flare is only moderate in size, but well placed for the eruption to hit us. We’re not talking about anything extreme, but simulations will give a better idea of the likely impact timings and effects soon.

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Dr. Ryan French @ryanjfrench.bsky.social · Aug 29

The Sun 10 days ago, versus the Sun today! Sunspot numbers have spiked, but haven’t been joined by the expected rise in solar flare activity. Will this large sunspot group produce a major flare soon?

Maybe, maybe not. #spaceweather

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

This is the proudest I’ve felt about any individual achievement (besides marrying my wife - of course), so I would appreciate folks sharing this with anyone they think might be interested! It would make a great Christmas gift too 😄

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

The book explores the science, potential impacts, and mitigation strategies for a number of space hazards, including the Sun, near-Earth objects, and space junk. It’s hardback, with lots of pretty pictures! Here are some of the chapter title pages:

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

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

An active region responsible for launching nasty eruptions from behind the Sun, just produced a moderate solar flare as it rotates into view. The region will rotate further to face Earth this week – an important week to keep an eye on solar activity! #spaceweather

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