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On July 28, 2012, the sun emitted a mid-level flare, categorized as an M6.2 flare. The flare is visible here in the lower left-hand side, coming from an active region on the sun named AR 1532. This image was captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) in the 131 Angstrom wavelength, which is typically colorized in teal and which is a particularly good wavelength for observing flares.

This oblique view of the lower mound in Gale Crater shows layers of rock that preserve a record of environments on Mars.

New research using data from European Southern Observatory telescopes, including the Very Large Telescope, has revealed that the hottest and brightest stars, known as O stars, are often found in close pairs. Many of these binaries transfer mass from one star to another, a kind of stellar vampirism depicted in this artist's impression.

For several days this month, Greenland's surface ice cover melted over a larger area than at any time in more than 30 years of satellite observations.

The Sun’s great idea

Forecasters say solar maximum is still a year away. Earlier this month sky watchers got a taste of things to come when a powerful flare sparked Northern Lights over the United States as far south as Arkansas, Colorado and California.

The AIRS images for June 29 show the crescent shape of the initial stage of the derecho as it gathered strength on the Michigan-Indiana-Ohio border and began its rapid eastward movement. The infrared image shows the high near-surface atmospheric temperatures blanketing the South and Midwest United States, approaching 98 F.

Hubble captured a crowd of stars that looks rather like a stadium darkened before a show, lit only by the flashes of the audience’s cameras.

Atomic force microscopy images of artificial ion channels created by scientists. The images are of the same sample, with increasing magnification.