Astronomer Dr. Kidwell monitors a solar flare event occurring every 45 minutes over a 12-day observation window. Each flare triggers a 90-minute data analysis session, 40% overlapping with the next. If each session generates 1.8 GB of data, how many total GB are stored, accounting for overlap?

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 00:14:08 +0000

**How Astronomer Dr. Kidwell tracks solar flares—what the data really reveals** Across the sun’s surface, a rhythmic pulse of energy erupts every 45 minutes—a solar flare event that unfolds in rapid succession over 12 days. A dedicated astronomer, Dr. Kidwell, spends 40 minutes analyzing each flare’s aftermath, using 90-minute data sessions that overlap by 36 minutes per follow-up. These relentless patterns generate massive volumes of information, now captured in precise measurements. At 1.8 GB per session, how much data accumulates over this observation window—accounting for real overlap? --- ### Why This Solar Flare Study Is Gaining Traction