The NASA space agency has reported a massive solar flare, the likes of which has not been recorded since 2006. This flash has already caused some interference on high-frequency radios and could be causing the magnificent auroras to be seen even in the skies over London.
The last solar flare
An intense flare was recorded on the morning of September 6 and was part of a series of flares. NASA's Solar Activity Observatory spotted the first flare at 5:10 am. Its intensity was estimated as X2.2, where X is the mark for the strongest explosive processes in the solar atmosphere.
Then, at 8:02 am, a significantly more intense outbreak was recorded, which experts estimated at X9.3.
According to NASA, the flares were recorded in the active region of the Sun known as AR 2673. This region also became the site of a medium explosion not long ago on September 4, 2017.
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Solar minimum period
Scientists find the timing of these intense flares a little strange. The fact is that the Sun is in a quieter period of its 11-year solar cycle, this period is known as the solar minimum. The solar cycle began with a 2008 solar minimum, which is expected to repeat in the near future.
This is the phase when energy eruptions on the Sun occur less and less, however, as recent events have shown, even with minimal activity, the surface of the Sun can still be shaken by powerful energy explosions.
The most powerful flashes
The last time such strong activity was seen on the Sun was in 2006. Then the flare estimate was X9.0
The largest solar flare ever recorded was seen in 2003. She became part of an unprecedented solar activity known as the All Saints' Day Storm.
The intensity of the strongest flare was estimated at X28, but the results were taken before the intensity of the flare overwhelmed the observatory's solar sensors, so it is likely that the flash was more powerful.
The number next to the X indicates the intensity of the activity, for example, X2 is twice as intense as X1, and X3 is three times as intense, and so on.
Exposure to solar activity
Usually, such violent explosions are accompanied by coronal mass ejections, which lead to violent geomagnetic storms. It is not yet known whether there was an outburst.
If the coronal mass ejection was directed towards the Earth, then we cannot avoid a geomagnetic storm.
The intensity of this latest storm means that magnificent auroras will be seen in the northern and southern latitudes. Usually, these natural phenomena are limited to latitudes closer to the Arctic Circle, but this time the aurora can be expected much further south.
Hope Chikanchi