NASA Observatory Captures Spectacular X-Class Solar Flare Erupting from the Sun
In recent months, the Sun has been displaying its immense power, and as we draw closer to the anticipated solar maximum in 2025, its intensity is predicted to escalate. For those unfamiliar, the solar maximum refers to the phase of peak solar activity within the Sun’s 11-year cycle. During this period, fluctuations in the Sun’s magnetic field lead to heightened solar activity, including the emergence of sunspots, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), eruptions, and other phenomena. The consequences of this heightened activity became evident on July 2 when the Sun emitted a formidable X-class solar flare.
Sunrise recorded
According to a NASA report, the intensity of the solar flare radiating from the Sun’s surface was X1.0. X-class solar flares are the most powerful, which can lead to long radiation storms. The flare was captured by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), which houses a full suite of instruments for observing the sun, and has been doing so since 2010. It uses three very important instruments to collect data on various solar activities. The image taken shows extreme ultraviolet light, highlighting the hot material ejected from the Sun, which is colored blue-green.
Class X solar flares: are they dangerous?
X-class solar flares can cause radiation storms that can damage satellites, but also give small doses of radiation to people flying in airplanes at the time! In addition, these destructive flares can disrupt global communications and bring down power grids, causing blackouts if they are very strong.
If the X-class flares are too strong, they can lead Earth into loops 10 times larger, which jump off the Sun’s surface when the magnetic fields are crossed, according to NASA. When these loops recombine, they can produce as much energy as a billion hydrogen bombs!
The strongest solar flare in recent history
While most Class X flares are dangerous, some are so powerful that even advanced equipment cannot measure them. In 2003, the X-class flare thrown by the Sun was so strong that the sensors measuring it were overloaded. Its intensity was a whopping X28 on the scale.
