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A large solar flare observed on 2011/02/15 with Hinode (Ca H line at 397 nm; provided by NAOJ/JAXA).

The first flare in the new solar cycle

Hinode, JAXA's solar astronomical satellite, has observed a large flare in March 2011. For last several years, the sun has been quiet with small numbers of flares and sunspots. A new active period seems to have started from 2009. This flare is the first one in this new solar active cycle. More images and movies can be found at NAOJ/hinode page.

Takayuki Tamura(ISAS/JAXA)

May, 2011