Sun Unleashes Powerful X-Class Solar Flare, NASA Shares Video

[Spartan]

 

[Spartan]

The Sun released a powerful X-class solar flare on Sunday, January 18, peaking at 18:09 GMT. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which constantly monitors the Sun, captured both images and video of the event.

Classified as an X1.9 flare, it is among the strongest types of solar flares. X-class flares represent the most intense solar activity, while the number indicates its relative strength. The flare originated from sunspot region AR4341.

Solar flares are bursts of energy that can disrupt radio communications, navigation signals, and electric power grids. They can also pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts in orbit.

The flare was followed by a coronal mass ejection (CME), a massive release of solar plasma travelling towards Earth.

On Monday, the storm began to impact Earth. The US National Weather Service’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) reported a solar radiation storm at level four out of five—the strongest in more than 20 years.

SWPC called it as “the largest solar radiation storm in over 20 years," surpassing conditions last seen during the Halloween storms of 2003.

The storm can affect satellites, space missions, and aviation along polar routes. It also increases radiation exposure for astronauts in low-Earth orbit, including those aboard the International Space Station.

 

Following the radiation storm, severe geomagnetic storm conditions were recorded. SWPC confirmed that G4-level geomagnetic storm conditions began at 14:38 EST, after the CME shock reached Earth.