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Topic: Solar Flare

Sunspot AR3451 harbours a “beta-gamma” magnetic field that could trigger solar flares, as per the report. (NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory) Space 

NASA Warns of Potential M-class Solar Flare

Nitin Misra, ,

As we approach the Solar Maximum, the Sun’s activity is anticipated to increase in the coming months. This period, expected to occur in 2024 or 2025, represents the peak of the solar cycle. Surpassing previous predictions, the number of sunspots has already exceeded expectations. During this peak phase, the planet may encounter various threats such as CMEs, solar flares, solar storms, and other particles, which could have disastrous consequences. In a recent development, NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), equipped with a comprehensive range of instruments to observe the Sun, has…

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M2.5 solar flare hurled out by a sunspot explosion could hit Earth soon, according to NASA’s SDO. (SDO/NASA) Space 

Sunspot Eruption Sends Powerful M2.5 Solar Flares into Space

Febin Mathew, ,

Scientists and space weather forecasters have been caught off guard by the unexpected increase in sunspots during the ongoing solar cycle 25. Throughout its 11-year duration, the Sun releases various potentially harmful particles such as CMEs, solar flares, and solar storms, which possess enough energy to cause damage on Earth. While scientists possess the capability to forecast most of these occurrences, the current cycle has already surpassed the previously predicted maximum threshold, and there is a possibility of further escalation as it reaches its peak in the next year or…

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X-class solar flares could soon be hurled towards Earth from the Sun. (SDO/NASA) News 

X-class Solar Flares Pose Risk: Be Aware of the Potential for Solar Storms

Adarsh V.K, ,

Over the past three days, Earth has experienced multiple geomagnetic storms. On September 24, a G2-class storm occurred, resulting in rare red auroras appearing over Scotland. Yesterday, a G-1 geomagnetic storm was anticipated as a CME approached the planet. Over the past few months, the Sun’s impact has been evident through solar storms, geomagnetic storms, and solar flares. Consequently, these occurrences have triggered additional events like auroras, power outages, and disruptions in radio communications. This solar activity is projected to intensify as we approach the solar maximum, the phase in…

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The solar flares erupted on the sunspot AR3429 on the northeastern side of the Sun. It is now being determined whether a CME was released during the eruption that could spark a solar storm that could, in turn, hit Earth. (Representative Photo) (Pixabay) Space 

Solar Flares Cause Widespread Blackouts on Earth; Is Another Solar Storm Imminent?

Nitin Misra, ,

Increased solar activity has been observed on the Sun, which may have negative implications for Earth. Presently, a coronal mass ejection (CME) is heading towards our planet and is expected to impact on Sunday, September 17. However, prior to its arrival, additional solar flares have occurred on the Sun. Specifically, two separate M-class solar flares erupted in the well-known sunspot region AR3429, which has already generated numerous solar flares. The intense radiation emitted by these solar flares caused disruptions in radio communication on Earth. Scientists are now investigating the possibility…

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Solar storm threat rises after 2 Earth-directed solar flare explosions were detected. (Pixabay) Space 

Solar Storms Trigger Blackouts on Earth: Is a Catastrophic Event Looming?

Adriana Marais, ,

After experiencing a solar storm on September 9, the Earth is now facing the possibility of another one. Recently, a solar flare of M1.3-class erupted on the side of the Sun facing our planet, causing a blackout in shortwave radio communication over the Pacific Ocean. Shortly after, at 9:30 AM on September 11, another solar flare occurred, resulting in blackouts in Japan, South Korea, and eastern regions of China. These consecutive solar flare eruptions are originating from sunspot AR3429. Furthermore, another sunspot region called AR3423 has also become a concern…

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A solar storm can soon strike the Earth. (Pixabay) News 

Solar Flare Causes Blackouts in US as CME Heads Towards Solar Orbiter

Jim Hendler, ,

Solar activity has been increasing since the beginning of the month, with several solar flare eruptions and a few solar storms occurring. Fortunately, these events were not significant and had minimal impact. However, in the past 24 hours, the situation has changed. A solar flare of M2.12-class erupted, causing a shortwave radio blackout across the Americas. Additionally, a powerful coronal mass ejection (CME) cloud has been detected heading towards the Solar Orbiter, a Sun-observing probe operated by the European Space Agency (ESA), and is expected to hit it today, September…

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M2 solar flare hurled out by a sunspot explosion could hit Earth soon, according to NASA’s SDO. (NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory) Space 

Alert: M2 Solar Flare Could Impact Earth Following Sunspot Eruption

Sanjay Patil, ,

As the solar maximum draws near in the coming years, the Sun’s activity is increasing and is anticipated to escalate further. This year alone, we have witnessed a significant number of solar flares, CMEs, solar storms, and geomagnetic storms. Surprisingly, experts have noted that the Sun has already surpassed the projected count of sunspots for the solar maximum. To closely monitor the Sun’s unpredictable behavior, NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) is equipped with a comprehensive set of instruments that enable it to observe solar activity. This NASA observatory recently revealed…

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Know all about the solar storm and other activities that have plagued the Earth in the last 24 hours. (Pixabay) Space 

Earth Experiences 24 Hours of Terror as Solar Storm Approaches

Jim Hendler, ,

As the equinox draws near on September 23, solar activities have once again become more active. It is well-known that during this time, the Earth experiences a higher occurrence of extreme solar activities due to the Earth’s magnetic poles aligning at a right angle with the Sun. In the past 24 hours, the Earth has encountered significant impacts from the Sun, including radio blackouts, solar flare eruptions, CME releases, and the potential for a solar storm to strike at any moment. Let’s examine the events that have unfolded during this…

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Sunspot AR3415 harbours a “beta-delta” magnetic field, as per the report. (Pixabay) Space 

NASA Warns of Potential M-Class Solar Flares from Giant Sunspot Aimed at Earth

Jim Hendler,

According to NASA, as we near the solar maximum, the Sun’s activity is projected to rise in the upcoming months. The solar minimum took place in 2019, signifying the beginning of the solar maximum phase, during which a significant increase in sunspots is anticipated. This phase is expected to reach its peak in 2025, potentially resulting in the Sun emitting CMEs, solar flares, solar storms, and other particles towards Earth, which could have catastrophic effects. Surprisingly, experts have recently disclosed that the Sun has already surpassed the anticipated number of…

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A NASA scientist reveals that a trip to Mars can have deadly consequences, due to the solar flares and CMEs that are frequently shot off by the Sun. (Pixabay) News 

Be Aware of Solar Flares: Potential Danger to Mars Explorers

Adriana Marais,

Following the recent success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, the astronomy community is filled with unprecedented excitement. Speculation has already begun regarding potential future accomplishments for India and the world. Among the numerous ideas for space exploration, one objective has consistently remained at the forefront: a manned mission to Mars, which could ultimately lead to the establishment of a colony on the red planet. However, a NASA scientist has cautioned that this aspiration may not be feasible in the foreseeable future due to the limitations of our current technology. The primary…

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Solar flares have the capacity to heat up stuff around them to millions of degrees and across the electromagnetic spectrum. (Pixabay) Space 

Exploring Solar Flares and Coronal Mass Ejections: What to Know About the Sun’s Fiery Outbursts

Jim Hendler,

Solar flares have been making headlines recently due to the increasing volatility of the Sun. As we approach the peak of Solar Cycle 25 in 2025, the Sun’s power is becoming more captivating. However, it is important to understand the significance of these phenomena. Solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are remarkable events that can impact Earth, potentially affecting our electric infrastructure. Understanding solar flares Imagine the Sun as a gigantic cosmic fireworks show. The Sun triggers solar flares, which are like massive explosions on its surface. According to…

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Two sunspots could unleash C, M-class solar flares. (Unsplash) Space 

Potential for M-class Solar Flares from Earth-facing Sunspots

Nitin Misra, ,

Over the past few months, the Sun has demonstrated its power and is anticipated to become even more active as we approach the peak of Solar Cycle 25, projected to occur in 2025. Throughout its 11-year cycle, the Sun releases CMEs, solar flares, solar storms, and other highly energetic particles that have the potential to harm Earth’s electrical infrastructure. Despite scientists’ ability to forecast most of these occurrences, the current level of activity in this cycle has already surpassed the previously predicted maximum threshold. According to a report by the…

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Solar flare unleashes energy equivalent to a billion WWII bombs, captured by earth-orbiting satellites. (Pixabay) News 

Solar Flare of Unprecedented Magnitude Released by Sun

Jim Hendler,

During a recent incident, the Sun exhibited an uncommon state of calmness, which came after a week of potentially dangerous solar storm activity aimed at Earth. Keith Strong, a solar physicist, disclosed his observations indicating that despite the tranquility on our planet, the Sun’s surface was anything but peaceful. This was demonstrated by the occurrence of an extremely powerful solar flare. According to Strong’s post, the Sun went without significant flares (>C5) for the longest time since March. The report found 11 spot regions and the number of sunspots up…

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Know today’s solar storm forecast. (nasa.gov) News 

X-class Solar Flares Expected Today – Possible Risk of Power Outages

Adriana Marais,

A fresh sunspot has emerged on the side of the Sun facing Earth, exhibiting active solar flares. Fortunately, it has not yet erupted, but its stability is uncertain. Consequently, today’s solar storm prediction includes the potential for an X-class solar flare eruption and the risk of radio disruptions caused by passing solar winds. It is uncertain whether any eruptions today could result in a coronal mass ejection (CME) directed towards Earth, posing an additional threat of a solar storm. Space weather physicist Tamitha Skov posted a detailed solar storm forecast…

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Sun is reaching its solar maximum and it can generate a massive solar storm that can severely impact the power grids on Earth and satellites above. (SDO/NASA) Space 

Scientists Worry About Solar Storms’ Potential to Disrupt Power Grids and Satellites on Earth

Nitin Misra,

Scientists are growing concerned about an unprecedented solar storm that could have severe consequences for Earth and humanity as the Sun approaches the solar maximum. Currently, we are witnessing heightened solar activity, with frequent occurrence of massive solar storms. The solar maximum, which occurs every 11 years, marks the peak of solar activities. Typically, these storms have minimal impact on Earth, but occasionally they become so intense that they generate powerful geomagnetic storms, disrupting electrical infrastructure such as the power grid and satellites. NASA warns that if such a solar…

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M-class solar flares could be hurled out by the Sunspot AR3395, as per NASA. (Unsplash) Space 

Warning: M-class Solar Flares Possible from Earth-facing Sunspot

Nitin Misra,

According to NASA, solar flares are categorized based on their intensity using a logarithmic scale, much like the measurement system used for earthquakes. The lowest level of solar flares, known as A-class, occurs at levels close to the background. This is followed by B, C, M, and X classes. Similar to the Richter scale, each letter on the logarithmic scale represents a tenfold increase in energy output. Therefore, an X-class flare is ten times more powerful than an M-class flare and a hundred times stronger than a C-class flare. Additionally,…

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The solar flare occurred just after two days of weaker X flare which occurred on August 5. (NASA) News 

North American Radio Communications Disrupted by Powerful Solar Flare

Jim Hendler

In recent weeks, there has been a notable rise in solar activity, resulting in a series of powerful solar storms. The Sun is currently in its 11-year solar cycle and is expected to reach its peak next year, making these storms even more intense and potentially hazardous to satellites, power grids, internet infrastructure, and other systems. On Monday, a particularly strong solar flare emitted by the Sun caused a blackout of radio and navigation signals in North America, as the energetic particles reached our planet. A solar flare The solar…

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Solar activity is driven by solar magnetic field. (NASA) Space 

Impact of Solar Storms on Technology on our Planet

Jim Hendler,

Have you ever wondered about solar activity? It encompasses various phenomena such as coronal mass ejections, high-speed solar wind, solar flares, and solar energetic particles, all of which are influenced by the magnetic field of our Sun. It’s fascinating to think that these volatile solar activities power everything in our solar system. But did you know that they can also impact technology worldwide, both on Earth and in space? Solar storms caused by the Sun can have destructive effects on power grids, the Internet, satellites, and even your mobile phone.…

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What is a solar radiation storm? (NASA/SDO) Space 

Exploring the Effects of Solar Radiation Storms on Earth

Febin Mathew, ,

Occasionally, reports surface regarding solar storms and solar flares emitted by the Sun and their effects on Earth, such as disruptions to satellites and power grids. However, are you familiar with solar radiation storms? Prior to delving into this concept, let’s first understand what solar storms and solar flares entail. NASA describes a solar flare as a powerful burst of radiation caused by the release of magnetic energy from sunspots. Solar storms, on the other hand, refer to the atmospheric consequences on Earth of space events such as coronal mass…

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Russian Scientists warn of communication disruptions on Earth today due to solar flares. (NASA) News 

Russian Scientists Issue Warning of Potential Communication Disruption Due to Solar Flares

Adriana Marais, ,

The Fedorov Institute of Applied Geophysics in Moscow has alerted that the solar flares witnessed on July 16, 2023, could presently lead to disturbances in Earth’s communication systems. Russian scientists have cautioned about the likelihood of X-class solar flares, including proton flares, which may disrupt short-wave communications, as per a report from Reuters news agency. A solar flare occurs when magnetic field lines near sunspots, cooler regions on the Sun’s surface, overlap and release a sudden burst of energy. Of these flares, Class X flares are the most powerful. Flares…

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