Our Sun unleashed the largest solar flare since 2017 on Thursday. It could eventually trigger spectacular northern lights. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) took a photo of the flare that shows it pointing toward Earth.
« Solar flares are powerful explosions of energy », Explains the American space agency. “ they can impact radio communications, power grids, navigation signals and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts. »
Class X solar flares are the most powerful
Solar flares are listed by classes, with Class X flares being the most intense. There is a fairly wide range within the X category. NASA estimates that the most powerful flare ever recorded was an
crédit photo : NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center
The SDO space probe constantly studies the sun. It monitors its activity and sends back images. “ Solar flares of this magnitude can be impulsive (i.e. quick to rise and fall) and last a few minutes, or a few hours said the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center in a report on the X9 flare.
Possible Northern Lights this weekend
The sun goes through 11-year activity cycles and is currently in a period of high intensity. The last time the sun experienced such an intense streak was in 2017, when it emitted a series of X-class flares.
The eruption that just occurred is associated with a coronal mass ejection, or CME. This may be good news for aurora hunters. The week is already looking good for observing the Northern Lights until October 5 thanks to a previous eruption.
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