Sun To Unleash Massive Solar Flare, Earth Braces For Impact, Check Details Here

Washington: NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory has said that the Sun has emitted a strong solar flare, with even more powerful flares expected adding that Earth may soon experience the effects of these solar events.

This flare is classified as an X9.0 flare. The X-class represents the strongest flares, while the number indicates its level of intensity.

While sharing images of the solar flares, NASA said that no solar activity of this scale has been noticed since 2017. 

What are Solar Flares?

Solar flares are intense bursts of energy. They, along with solar eruptions, can affect radio communications, electrical power grids, navigation signals, and present dangers to spacecraft and astronauts.

Notably, the coronal mass ejection (CME) linked to this flare is of particular interest. Images from the SOHO coronagraph reveal a halo CME emanating from the explosion site, which is projected to impact Earth on October 6.

Geomagnetic Storms Expected This Weekend

This event will coincide with a prior CME expected to reach Earth between October 4 and 5, increasing the chances of geomagnetic storms and auroras this weekend.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a geomagnetic storm watch from October 3 to 5, forecasting disturbances ranging from G1 (minor) to G3 (strong). These storms can disrupt power grids, satellite operations, and navigation systems, while also enhancing auroral displays at lower latitudes than normal.

This recent solar activity signifies an ongoing exceptionally active period for the Sun, which has already generated 41 X-class flares in 2024—more than the total for the previous nine years combined.

Experts also stated that we have entered a solar maximum phase earlier than anticipated, with increased activity expected to continue into 2025.