NASA, through its Solar Dynamics Observatory, captured an intense Class X glow from the sun on Sunday afternoon as well, according to the researchers, is the most powerful explosion of energy seen since May 10th. .
The explosion was classified as a class X1 flare, peaking at 4:25 pm This means that if the eruptions are grouped by intensity into classes C, M and X, the latter is one of the most powerful.
Each letter of this scale is ten times more powerful than the previous one.so an X glow is ten times more powerful than an M and 100 times more intense than a C.
“Although an X1 is a significant glow, the flares were recorded as far as X28, which is where the sensors overloaded during the most powerful glow of 2003,” according to NASA.
What are solar flares and how could they affect the Earth?
Solar flares are bursts of energetic particles that usually erupt from sunspots on the surface of the sun.
These bursts of radiation travel at the speed of light and reach Earth in less than ten minutes.but our planet’s magnetosphere deflects most of the energy blast from reaching the surface.
However, rockets can briefly interrupt radio and satellite communications in the part of the globe that is in the line of fireincluding navigation systems such as GPS.
In the most extreme cases, the eruptions and explosions of charged plasma, called coronal mass ejections (CME), which often accompany them, can affect grounded electrical equipment and networks.
The sun also emitted two strong flares over the weekend along with multiple coronal mass ejections, also known as CMEs, which move significantly slower than the particles in the flares.
CMEs are expected to hit the planet as soon as Tuesday and it could cause a geomagnetic storm on Earthaccording to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center.
This spatial climate can be detrimental to spacecraft in orbit and, in addition, can provide astronauts on the International Space Station with a small dose of radiation.
Another of the phenomena of this event is that it also enhances the Northern Lights and Aurora Australis, making them potentially more hyperactive and visible in low latitudes.
The situation of the sun and its repercussions on the Earth
All of this could be just the beginning. The sun is nearing peak activity in its 11-year sunspot activity cycle. Many space observatories are predicting an increasing number of sunspots and flares.This is between now and sometime in the next few years, before the business starts to fade again.
In some cases, the current phase of the solar cycle, which approximates what is called a solar maximumhe has already been more hyperactive than expected and may be one of the most remembered.
This is good news for Northern Lights fans, but it could lead to serious connectivity and energy issues for civilization.especially considering that it comes at a time when we are more dependent than ever on satellite communications.
Source: Clarin
