Though it is sedate in comparison with other stars, our sun is a volatile neighbor, a thermonuclear furnace fueling spectacular storms that send high-energy particles and radiation far out into space.
Dennis Overbye
OUT THERE
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A solar flare in 1859 produced auroral lights as far south as Hawaii and set telegraphs sparking.
Sunspots recently peaked again in 2014 and are still dangerously high. So far the planet has escaped any direct hits this time around, but scientists are keeping a weather eye on the good old sun.
Living with a star is exciting, but it requires eternal vigilance for the inevitable outbursts.
