NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) caught two solar flares released by the Sun on April 19 ahead of an impending cataclysmic solar storm of our time.
The space agency said in a statement that one of the solar flares was moderate (M-Class) and peaked around 9:35 p.m. EST, while the other was powerful (X-Class) and peaked at 11:57 p.m. EST.
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare – as seen in the bright flash in the lower right portion of the image– at 9:35 p.m. EST on April 19, 2022. The image shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares and is colorized in SDO channel color blue.
NASA SDO Captures Two Solar Flares
The space agency did not issue a precise forecast for the occurrence. However, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (via Space.com) warned that auroras would likely occur in the next 24 hours.
This message came after the Sun produced dozens of flares in hours, including the most powerful type of solar flare, the X-class. Sunspot AR2992, near the Sun's edge, had the most flares. There appears to be no incoming set of auroras linked with that sunspot's eruption since Earth was not entirely inside firing range.
When charged particles from coronal mass ejections reach Earth and move across our planet's magnetic field lines, auroras can form. The atmospheric molecules become "stimulated" and glow as the particles collide with fragments of Earth's atmosphere high above us.
A CME was predicted to form on Wednesday (April 20), but it appeared unlikely to impact Earth because the sunspot was oriented largely away from our planet.
The Sun emitted two solar flares on April 19, 2022, one moderate (M-class) peaking at 9:35 p.m. EST and one strong (X-class) peaking at 11:57 p.m. EST. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, captured an image of both events. https://t.co/42acXTfGhm pic.twitter.com/5fLck5IMUW
— NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun) April 20, 2022
Strongest Solar Flare Yet
Meanwhile, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) issued a solar storm alert.
It was after the solar system's lone star launched a massive solar outburst from sunspot area 2992 on the western limb of the Sun.
The most recent space event was the most powerful of the current solar cycle, and it also resulted in the production of a coronal mass ejection (CME), which was thankfully not aimed at Earth.
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare – as seen in the bright flash in the upper left portion of the image– on April 20, 2022. The image shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares, and which is colorized in yellow.
However, a magnetic storm caused by the solar storm released highly charged particles that damaged our radio transmissions.
The NOAA - SWPC said the solar flare is an "X2.2 flare (R3-Strong Radio Blackout)" with several bursts aimed at certain radio frequencies.
NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, said the solar eruption caused a radio blackout in Asia for aircraft, some shortwaves, and other communications that rely on satellite and radio transmissions. NASA SDO also added that this was the strongest solar flare ever recorded since 2017, CNET reported.
According to the US agency's space weather analysts, the CME is unlikely to reach Earth.
A solar flare, according to NASA, is a massive release of energy. Radio and satellite communications, electric power networks, and navigation signals might all be disrupted by the solar eruption.
A solar flare poses a hazard to commercial airlines and other aircraft, as well as astronauts on a spacecraft since it interrupts the global positioning system (GPS), which is utilized by many digital devices and equipment.
Today's X2.2 solar flare is the strongest solar flare of the current Solar Cycle thus far. It peaked at 03:57 UTC and came from sunspot region 2992 which is rounding the western limb. The eruption was fairly impulsive and the resulting CME is not earth-directed. pic.twitter.com/Aq38bXuFnA
— SpaceWeatherLive (@_SpaceWeather_) April 20, 2022
About Solar Flare
Solar flares are massive bursts of electromagnetic radiation from the Sun that last a few minutes to many hours. They can potentially affect radio communications, electric power networks, and navigation signals and endanger spacecraft and personnel.
Devdiscourse said the Solar Dynamics Observatory keeps a constant eye on the Sun and has contributed to the scientific community's understanding of our nearest star. Three scientific experiments are housed at the observatory: the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA), the EUV Variability Experiment (EVE), and the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI).
SDO photographed an X-class solar flare earlier this week, which designates the highest powerful outbursts. A coronal mass ejection (CME) - enormous plasma and magnetic field clouds that erupt from the Sun - was also photographed by the NASA/ESA Solar & Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) on April 17.
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