On Sunday, December 29, a category X1.1 flare occurred on the Sun. Before everyone assumed that it would be the last such event of the year, two flares occurred on Monday morning on another spot. Scientists say it could cause widespread auroras.
New solar flare
Early Sunday morning (December 29), the Sun erupted with an X1.1-class solar flare, one of the most powerful possible types of solar explosions. It occurred in the northwestern region of the Earth-turned side of the Sun, near sunspot group AR 3936 at 2:18 a.m. EST (0718 GMT) and caused severe radio interference in some parts of Earth, NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) said on Sunday.
“Analysis is currently underway to determine if there was an associated coronal mass ejection, and any potential impacts,” SWPC officials wrote in an update. Coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, are colossal eruptions of solar material that, when directed toward Earth, can amplify the northern lights and interfere with satellites and energy infrastructure on Earth.
Two flares on Monday
Before experts could report that Sunday’s flare was the last major one to occur in 2024, our luminosity demonstrated that it is actually unpredictable. Early Monday morning, once again, on its side facing us, but over another group of spots — AR 3932.
Two flares occurred one after the other. The first at 4:14, the second at 4:29. The first reached X1.59, the second X1.1. That is, all three flares were of approximately equal strength. Between them, several other events of average strength occurred during the day. The maximum of the solar cycle has just passed, but there are still many spots on the surface of our luminary.
Flare power and coronal mass ejection
SWPC staff is monitoring the behavior to determine whether a coronal mass ejection event was associated with it. If so, it is possible that the charged particles will cause auroras on Earth, creating a kind of solar fireworks display during New Year’s celebrations.
But while solar flare X1.1 was one of the most powerful flares, it was not the biggest solar flare of 2024. This title belongs to the X9-class flare that occurred on October 3. It was the third most powerful flare since 2011 and the fifth most powerful since 2005.
SWPC staff observed the X1.1. flare using an instrument on the GOES-16 weather satellite. GOES-16 is part of a fleet of NOAA and NASA spacecraft that continuously monitor the Sun for solar flares and other space weather phenomena.
According to www.space.com
