Dr. Ryan French
@ryanjfrench.bsky.social
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 ☀️
My first book, ‘The Sun: beginners guide to our local star’, published last year ☀️
Last night this gorgeous filament of plasma erupted from the backside of the Sun! What a beauty.
January 15, 2026 at 2:13 AM
Last night this gorgeous filament of plasma erupted from the backside of the Sun! What a beauty.
All three planets are currently behind the Sun, as shown here.
January 14, 2026 at 4:10 PM
All three planets are currently behind the Sun, as shown here.
The answer is Venus, Mars and Mercury! Being so close to the Sun, the three planets are currently near-impossible to see from the ground, but will begin to become visible before/after either sunrise/sunset in the coming days – as their positions diverge from the Sun!
January 14, 2026 at 4:10 PM
The answer is Venus, Mars and Mercury! Being so close to the Sun, the three planets are currently near-impossible to see from the ground, but will begin to become visible before/after either sunrise/sunset in the coming days – as their positions diverge from the Sun!
The Sun is joined by three planets in the sky this week. Can you guess what they are before opening the thread?
January 14, 2026 at 4:10 PM
The Sun is joined by three planets in the sky this week. Can you guess what they are before opening the thread?
The flare was also partially occulted, so peak class would likely be higher than an M3, if not partially blocked from view.
January 12, 2026 at 2:58 PM
The flare was also partially occulted, so peak class would likely be higher than an M3, if not partially blocked from view.
In comparison, most (not all) solar flares return to background levels in about an hour – even the big ones! Therefore, despite its weaker peak, the total energy released for this event is significant!
January 12, 2026 at 2:58 PM
In comparison, most (not all) solar flares return to background levels in about an hour – even the big ones! Therefore, despite its weaker peak, the total energy released for this event is significant!
Last night’s moderate #SolarFlare likely released more energy than the majority of larger X-class events. Why? Flare classifications are determined by the flare’s *peak* emission. Although last night’s flare capped at an M3 level, it continued releasing energy for over 12 hours!
January 12, 2026 at 2:58 PM
Last night’s moderate #SolarFlare likely released more energy than the majority of larger X-class events. Why? Flare classifications are determined by the flare’s *peak* emission. Although last night’s flare capped at an M3 level, it continued releasing energy for over 12 hours!
For anyone interested, I’ve uploaded a high resolution version to YouTube, showing the top ten strongest flares!
youtu.be/KkzKmyqI9OM?...
youtu.be/KkzKmyqI9OM?...
January 12, 2026 at 2:34 AM
For anyone interested, I’ve uploaded a high resolution version to YouTube, showing the top ten strongest flares!
youtu.be/KkzKmyqI9OM?...
youtu.be/KkzKmyqI9OM?...
The Sun produced nineteen X-class solar flares in 2025, down from 50+ in 2024. Out of these 19, only five were above the X2.0 level (compared with twenty in 2024)! Here is a video showing the top ten strongest flares from last year.
January 12, 2026 at 2:34 AM
The Sun produced nineteen X-class solar flares in 2025, down from 50+ in 2024. Out of these 19, only five were above the X2.0 level (compared with twenty in 2024)! Here is a video showing the top ten strongest flares from last year.
The flare is a long-duration event, still ongoing as speak. We can already see a hint of the beautiful 'supra-arcade downflows' above the flare, but I'll post a full movie of the event when data is available!
January 12, 2026 at 1:00 AM
The flare is a long-duration event, still ongoing as speak. We can already see a hint of the beautiful 'supra-arcade downflows' above the flare, but I'll post a full movie of the event when data is available!
11 days into the new year, and the Sun finally produced the first notable #SolarFlare of 2026. It was a moderate flare, reaching an M3.3-class! The active region responsible for this flare will be rotating to face Earth in coming days, so further solar activity is likely.
January 12, 2026 at 1:00 AM
11 days into the new year, and the Sun finally produced the first notable #SolarFlare of 2026. It was a moderate flare, reaching an M3.3-class! The active region responsible for this flare will be rotating to face Earth in coming days, so further solar activity is likely.
It was a great view! However, it wasn’t a solar flare, it was a prominence! Solar flares are dynamic and short-lived (lasting only 1 hour-ish), but prominences are live for much longer (sometimes weeks at a time). Both are bright in H-alpha wavelengths, which we see as red during eclipses ☀️
January 11, 2026 at 12:07 AM
It was a great view! However, it wasn’t a solar flare, it was a prominence! Solar flares are dynamic and short-lived (lasting only 1 hour-ish), but prominences are live for much longer (sometimes weeks at a time). Both are bright in H-alpha wavelengths, which we see as red during eclipses ☀️
My new 2026 ‘Awesome Auroras’ calendar from @vincentledvina.bsky.social matches the vibe of my office immaculately! Who else has a space-themed calendar this year?
January 9, 2026 at 7:01 PM
My new 2026 ‘Awesome Auroras’ calendar from @vincentledvina.bsky.social matches the vibe of my office immaculately! Who else has a space-themed calendar this year?
Reposted by Dr. Ryan French
I’m pleased to share that my next book, ‘Little Book of Eclipses’, is releasing this June (with Octopus/ Philip’s)! Co-authored with my friend/colleague Tom Kerss, the book eclipses the science/history/photography of both solar and lunar eclipses, and includes a decade of eclipse maps.
January 7, 2026 at 9:59 PM
I’m pleased to share that my next book, ‘Little Book of Eclipses’, is releasing this June (with Octopus/ Philip’s)! Co-authored with my friend/colleague Tom Kerss, the book eclipses the science/history/photography of both solar and lunar eclipses, and includes a decade of eclipse maps.
This is the first of two new books I have coming out this year (both co-authored with Tom Kerss), with an announcement for the second coming later this spring. The paperback edition of my 2025 title ‘Space Hazards’, also publishes this September.
January 7, 2026 at 9:59 PM
This is the first of two new books I have coming out this year (both co-authored with Tom Kerss), with an announcement for the second coming later this spring. The paperback edition of my 2025 title ‘Space Hazards’, also publishes this September.
The book releases ahead of this August’s total solar eclipse, where the shadow of the Moon will cross Greenland, Iceland and Spain, whilst bringing a 90%+ partial eclipse to much of Western Europe (including the UK).
January 7, 2026 at 9:59 PM
The book releases ahead of this August’s total solar eclipse, where the shadow of the Moon will cross Greenland, Iceland and Spain, whilst bringing a 90%+ partial eclipse to much of Western Europe (including the UK).
I’m pleased to share that my next book, ‘Little Book of Eclipses’, is releasing this June (with Octopus/ Philip’s)! Co-authored with my friend/colleague Tom Kerss, the book eclipses the science/history/photography of both solar and lunar eclipses, and includes a decade of eclipse maps.
January 7, 2026 at 9:59 PM
I’m pleased to share that my next book, ‘Little Book of Eclipses’, is releasing this June (with Octopus/ Philip’s)! Co-authored with my friend/colleague Tom Kerss, the book eclipses the science/history/photography of both solar and lunar eclipses, and includes a decade of eclipse maps.
And finally, we saw all three species of monkey in the area (howler, spider & white-faced capuchin), seeing even a capuchin enter a window and steal a banana!
January 5, 2026 at 4:27 PM
And finally, we saw all three species of monkey in the area (howler, spider & white-faced capuchin), seeing even a capuchin enter a window and steal a banana!
The mammal sightings were also fantastic, with sloths being my favourite. Did you know – they move so slowly, that moss gradually accumulates on their bodies throughout their lives.
January 5, 2026 at 4:27 PM
The mammal sightings were also fantastic, with sloths being my favourite. Did you know – they move so slowly, that moss gradually accumulates on their bodies throughout their lives.
I logged sightings of over 93 bird species over our 8 days there! I guess I’m into birding now.
January 5, 2026 at 4:27 PM
I logged sightings of over 93 bird species over our 8 days there! I guess I’m into birding now.
Yesterday I returned from a fantastic holiday in Costa Rica, so I apologise that the regular Sun posts have been absent! I will be posting more again this week, including some ‘2025 in review’ solar flare content. But first: here are some Costa Rica shots!
January 5, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Yesterday I returned from a fantastic holiday in Costa Rica, so I apologise that the regular Sun posts have been absent! I will be posting more again this week, including some ‘2025 in review’ solar flare content. But first: here are some Costa Rica shots!
(Sadly the file is too large to share on Bluesky directly, so I've attached a YouTube link)
January 5, 2026 at 3:24 PM
(Sadly the file is too large to share on Bluesky directly, so I've attached a YouTube link)
The entirety of 2025 on the Sun! In addition to the mesmerising growth and decay of bright active regions, scrubbing through the video clearly shows the apparent change in the Sun's size – as Earth gets 3 millions miles closer and further from the Sun across the year! www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKBh...
January 5, 2026 at 3:24 PM
The entirety of 2025 on the Sun! In addition to the mesmerising growth and decay of bright active regions, scrubbing through the video clearly shows the apparent change in the Sun's size – as Earth gets 3 millions miles closer and further from the Sun across the year! www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKBh...
Newest monthly sunspot numbers:
January 5, 2026 at 3:59 AM
Newest monthly sunspot numbers: