The Sun is the most important source of energy in the solar system. It is important for life to thrive on Earth but at the same time, can cause disruptions. Solar Flares - a sudden flash near sunspots occasionally accompanied by coronal mass ejection can cause interference in communication systems and even power grids. The Sun is an important factor that can impact the weather in space and on Earth, is constantly monitored by an array of telescopes and satellites. Scientists have figured out a more reliable method to study the spherical ball of plasma.

A NASA Frontier Development Lab (FDL) team has shown that by using deep learning, it is possible to virtually monitor the Sun's extreme ultraviolet (EUV) irradiance, which is a key driver of space weather. The Sun is vital for survival, but solar flares, which typically occur a few times a year, have the potential to cause severe disruptions in space and on Earth. These disruptions can impact spacecraft, satellites and even systems here on Earth, including GPS navigation, radio communications and the power grid. Deep learning can help get more value out of our current ability to monitor the Sun by providing virtual instruments to supplement physical devices. This research will be published in Science Advances on October 2, 2019 ("A deep learning virtual instrument for monitoring solar extreme ultraviolet spectral irradiance").