U.S. #5606
2021 55¢ Sun Science – Solar Flare
Issue Date: June 18, 2021
First Day City: Greenbelt, MD
Type of Stamp: Commemorative
Printed by: Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method: Flexographic, Foil Stamping
Format: Pane of 20
Self-Adhesive
Quantity Printed: 18,000,000
A solar flare is a sudden explosion of energy at or near the surface of the Sun. These flares usually occur near sunspots where magnetic fields get tangled up. Oftentimes, solar flares are followed by coronal mass ejections. This is the expulsion of plasma, radiation, and particles through the Sun's corona into outer space. Solar flares also emit a high amount of radio waves.
When solar flares occur in the direction of Earth, the particles can sometimes make it thorugh our upper atmosphere. This can cause the northern and southern lights (auroras) to be especially bright and visible in a wider area than normal. However, the particles from solar flares can also cause problems with long-range radio communications or even certain radar devices.
Solar flares are a big concern with new missions to the Moon or Mars. Neither have an atmosphere like Earth's to provide protection. This means the intense solar radiation from a solar flare could pose a significant threat to astronauts on the surface. Thankfully, scientists have developed special magnetic and physical shielding to protect against the radiation. This technology has been used on modern spaceships to keep astronauts safe. The effectiveness of these shields is always improving. With these innovations, we might even be able to build bases on the Moon someday!