On Friday, January 21, NASA has released stunning footage of a solar flare coming from the northeastern part of the sun. The American space agency has classified this as an M5.5 class flare, which is moderately strong.
The footage was captured using the agency's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) that constantly observes and monitors the sun using a fleet of spacecraft that study everything about it, from its atmosphere to its particles and magnetic fields. NASA shared in a statement that solar flares are powerful bursts of energy that can impact telecommunications electric power grids, and pose risks to astronauts and spacecraft.
In this handout photo provided by NASA, a Solar and Heliospheric Observatory image shows Region 486 that unleashed a record flare last week (lower left) November 18, 2003 on the sun.
The Great Solar Flare in 1582 Seen Across European and Asian Cities
The solar flare on Friday was only an M-class flare, which is the second-highest type of solar flare. The highest type is the X class that can go all the way up to X20, which could occur when the sun is already shooting boiling plasma and reaches Earth in the form of solar flares and solar winds.
According to MailOnline, an intense solar flare was observed in 1582 and was referred to as a "great fire" during that time. It was so strong that analyses conducted in April 2021 revealed the solar flare was seen across Europe and Asia. Eye-witness accounts of the event described the phenomenon as a "fiery red display in the sky" that lasted for at least three days.
Since astronomy was not yet as advanced as today, people were unaware of the event. On the other hand, astronomers today use solar storms to predict the future activity of the sun.
Scientists said that the level of the solar storm that happened in 1582 is comparable to the solar flares in 1909 and 1989, which suggests that one or two intense solar storms are possible every century. It means Earth could witness strong solar storms as intense as 1582 within the 21st century.
However, a similar intense solar storm could cause billions of dollars in damages and could adversely impact power grids all over the world if it were to hit today.
ALSO READ: Powerful Solar Flare May Impact Radio Frequency, Aviators and Mariners; Geomagnetic Storm Possible
Four Main Components of Solar Storm That May Hit Earth
Solar storms are high-speed solar wind that releases solar energetic particles driven by the solar magnetic field. NASA has classified solar activities into four main components that may impact Earth:
- Solar Flares- These are intense bursts of radiation coming from the magnetic energy associated with sunspots. They can last from minutes to hours and are typically detected as large explosions of photons. Scientists on Earth monitor flares in x-rays and optical light.
- Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs)- The corona is the outer solar atmosphere, consists of strong magnetic fields. But sometimes, the confined solar atmosphere could suddenly become violent and release bubbles of gas and magnetic field that may impact any nearby planet or spacecraft.
- Solar Prominence- They are also known as filaments that are seen in the Sun's photosphere that extend outwards into the hot outer atmosphere or corona and persist there for several months. For now, scientists do not know how prominences are formed.
- Solar Energetic Particles- These are high-energetic charged particles formed at the front of CMEs and solar flares. They can flow through solar winds and follow magnetic field lines between the Sun and Earth.
Scientists said that astronauts are not in direct danger of these components since manned missions are in relatively low-orbit. Although, astronauts take extra care during their spacewalks due to cumulative exposure that may harm them.
RELATED ARTICLE: Biggest Geomagnetic Storm Hit Earth 150 Years Ago: What Have We Learned? And Are We Ready for the Next One?
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