The GOES-18 satellite shared the first images of the Sun, they show a coronal mass ejection

The Solar Ultraviolet Thermal Imager, or SUVI, aboard NOAA's GOES-18 satellite launched on March 1, 2022.

Observing the Sun in the extreme ultravioletparts of the electromagnetic spectrum began on June 24, 2022. Already in July, SUVI GOES-18 captured a coronal mass ejection. In the animation below, it can be seen in the lower right quadrant of the Sun.

GOES-18 is currently undergoing post-launch tests andchecking devices and systems. In early 2023, it will become a full-fledged NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) satellite. Its data will help NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, which will help alert power companies, telecommunications providers and satellite operators about solar flares.

So far, the GOES-18 data at the stage of post-launch tests should be considered preliminary and inoperable, NOAA noted.

Recall, depending on the size and trajectorysolar eruptions, the possible impact on the near-Earth space and the Earth's magnetosphere can cause geomagnetic storms that lead to disruption of power supply, communication and navigation systems. Also, such storms can lead to radiation damage to orbiting satellites and the International Space Station.

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