It seems that solar flares have reached their peak. According to reports, after a powerful explosion earlier this week, the Sun has again released a powerful solar flare. This is the most powerful flare from the Sun in the last 7 years. Due to both explosions, a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) is coming on Earth, due to which Aurora can be seen in the sky. According to Live Science report, the latest solar flare was of X class category. It was released from sunspot AR3842 on Thursday. It has been rated at X9 intensity, the highest in the past 7 years.
Earlier in 2017, solar flares of magnitude X11.8 and X13.3 were released from the Sun. Due to the flare on Thursday, radiation has increased towards Earth. This caused a temporary radio blackout over parts of Africa and the South Atlantic Ocean. It is estimated that the CME that is heading towards the Earth will probably hit the Earth on October 6.
What Is Solar Flare
When the Sun’s magnetic energy is released, the resulting light and particles form solar flares. These flares are the most powerful explosions ever seen in our solar system, releasing energy comparable to billions of hydrogen bombs. The particles present in them travel at the speed of light.
What Is CME (Coronal Mass Ejection)
Coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, are large clouds of solar plasma. After a solar flare, these clouds spread into space in the Sun’s magnetic field. As they move through space, they expand and often reach distances of several hundred thousand miles. Many times it collides with the magnetic field of the planets. When their direction is towards the Earth, they can cause geomagnetic disturbances. Due to this, the satellites may short circuit and the power grid may be affected. If their impact is high, they can also endanger astronauts in Earth orbit.
