As the sun moves into the current cycle’s maximum phase of activity, it is increasingly releasing strong flares. On October 24, the most powerful class X event was held on the star, according to Space.com.
Spot AR3869 was the origin of the outbreak. Radio communications over Australia and Southeast Asia were briefly cut off due to intense UV radiation from a flash.
โAs expected with the return of many regions, high solar flare activity has also returned. AR3869 wasted no time immediately shipping the X3.3 flash earlier today with a large CME (coronal mass ejection). These regions will need to be watched in the coming days as they rotate westward and face Earth,” said space weather forecaster Sara Housseal.
When CMEs reach Earth, they can cause magnetic storms and auroras. According to the publication, given the spot’s location on the Sun, it is unlikely that a sizable portion of the current CME will reach the planet.
At the same time, the space weather tracking site SpaceWeather notes that according to the forecast of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the magnetic storm associated with this CME will cover the Earth on October 26. It will be weak, category G1.
But on the other hand, the Meteoagent Portal, which predicts a weak magnetic storm, has a similar forecast; the K-index will exceed 5.
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