The Sun is becoming more active as it almost reaches its solar maximum - the peak of the Sun's natural 11-year cycle. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) photographed today's moderate solar flare, which monitors solar activity.
The most explosive occurrences in our solar system are solar flares, which are radiation's violent explosions on the Sun. According to NASA, the most potent flares have the energy equivalent of a billion hydrogen bombs, which is sufficient to power the whole planet for 20,000 years.
Flares don't directly hurt people on Earth. Still, their radiation may be dangerous to astronauts outside the atmosphere and interfere with the equipment we depend on, such as GPS and high-frequency radio.
Sun Emits Powerful Solar Flare, NASA Says
According to NASA (per reports), the Sun has comparatively tranquil periods followed by turbulent periods during each of its 11-year cycles. Solar maximum, the Sun's peak activity, is marked by sunspots and the reversal of its magnetic poles.
Before it is sent into space, a plasma filament can be seen floating above the Sun's surface.
After the solar eruption, the Coronal Mass Ejection, or CME, was seen exiting from the sun's northern hemisphere by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO).
CMEs and solar flares vary in that CMEs move more slowly and solar flares can take up to eight minutes to reach Earth.
The quickest CME to reach Earth would take 15 to 18 hours.
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Experts have warned that another solar flare is imminent after the one that already hit Earth and created a "radio blackout" in parts of Europe and Africa.
The sun is home to about six large sunspots. They are vulnerable to powerful flares from at least two of them.
NASA explains this phenomenon: "The magnetic field lines near sunspots often tangle, cross, and reorganize. This can cause a sudden explosion of energy called a solar flare."
In a screen grab taken from a handout timelapse sequence provided by NASA / SDO, a solar spot in the center of the Sun is captured from which the first X-class flare was emitted in four years on February 14, 2011.
Sunspot AR3089
Sunspot AR3089 is "crackling with a series of intensifying M-class [moderate] solar flares," according to SpaceWeather.com.
NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory predicted (per The US Sun) that the flares, which started on Friday and reached their peak at 7.16am EDT, would cause a temporary radio blackout throughout Europe and Africa.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also estimated that Monday might see auroras spread over the Arctic Circle due to another solar particle storm.
A solar outburst that occurred in June caused a radio blackout in the country's western region and spurred specialists to issue a future fallout warning.
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