The sun has once again demonstrated its awe-inspiring power, as it released a colossal X-class solar flare earlier today, marking the most potent solar eruption witnessed since September 2017.
While it’s too early to tell, initial data indicates that a CME was also released with a potential earth-facing component.
The event was captured on video by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft, providing a stunning visual.
Solar physicists classify solar flares into three categories, with C-class flares being the weakest, M-class flares falling in the middle, and X-class flares reigning as the most significant particle radiation and speed.
Today’s solar flare, occurring at precisely 12:02 p.m. EST (1702 GMT), registered as an X2.8, showcasing its extraordinary strength and intensity.
The eruption unleashed a massive pulse of high-energy radiation into space, highlighting the sun’s ability to generate and release tremendous amounts of energy.
SpaceWeather.com, a space weather monitoring website, confirmed that this X2.8 solar flare is the strongest recorded since September 2017, further accentuating its significance.
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which constantly monitors the sun’s activity, managed to capture the spectacular event on camera. The footage showcases the eruption’s display of intense light and radiation emanating from the sun’s surface.
Solar flares are natural phenomena that occur when the sun’s magnetic field lines become twisted and tangled, releasing a sudden burst of energy in the form of radiation.
These eruptions can have various impacts on space weather, including the potential to disrupt satellite communications, interfere with GPS signals, and affect power grids on Earth.
