The sun continues to show its impressive power. Over the past few days, our star has released a series of powerful flares that have caused global radio interference on Earth and even illuminated the skies of Mars, where Perseverance has spotted auroras. The most active were X-class flares, the highest category of solar activity.
On May 13, sunspot AR4086 exploded, releasing an X1.2-class flare. The next day, the neighboring spot AR4087 became even more active, first with an M5.3 flare, followed by a powerful X2.7, and a few hours later by an M7.7. These explosions caused massive communication disruptions on the illuminated side of the Earth, affecting the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia. Shortwave radio frequencies were temporarily jammed due to intense X-ray radiation that saturated the planet’s ionosphere.
Why are flares dangerous?
Solar flares are bursts of energy born in the magnetic nodes of a star’s surface. When distorted magnetic fields suddenly release energy, a flare equivalent to millions of hydrogen bombs occurs. They are categorized on a scale of A-B-C-M-X, where each level is 10 times more powerful than the previous one. For example, an X2.7 flare is 270 times more intense than an M1 flare.
Wow, pretty impressive CME / eruptive prominence after the M4.6 flare in AR 4087! Not much plasma seems to be actually leaving. https://t.co/dhYU41L63X pic.twitter.com/0syQ8eVDOd
— Jure Atanackov (@JAtanackov) May 14, 2025
The X2.7 flare was accompanied by a coronal mass ejection (CME), a cloud of glowing plasma. Fortunately for Earth, due to AR4087’s location at the edge of the solar disk, this particle stream was directed toward Mars.
There is still a threat
However, the danger to our planet is still not over. Spot AR4087 is moving towards the central part of the Sun, and in a few days will take the Earth “in the sights”. If it continues to emit flares, we will experience more radio interference. And if they are accompanied by CMEs, geomagnetic storms of up to G2-G3 strength are possible, which will spread auroras far beyond normal latitudes.
According to NOAA, there is a 65% chance of new M-class flares before May 17, and a 30% chance of new X-class flares. Scientists note: the current cycle of solar activity is approaching its peak, so such phenomena will become more frequent.
We previously reported on how the PUNCH mission revealed the 3D secrets of the colored solar wind.
According to Space
