A defining moment of American exploration. The America250 emblem is displayed on the twin solid rocket boosters of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket for the Artemis II mission around the Moon. Launch is scheduled for early next year. | NASA Artemis

A strong X1.9 solar flare erupted from the sun's surface at 9:49 p.m. ET on Nov. 30, and NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory caught it in action. The flare appears as a bright flash on the Sun’s edge, followed by a plume of hot material rising into space. Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy. They can disturb radio communications, affect navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts — which is why NASA and NOAA track them so closely. Credit: NASA/SDO | NASA 360