The sun has ejected another X-class flare that peaked at 12:52 p.m. EST on March 3, 2023. NASA's SDO (Solar Dynamics Observatory), which constantly monitors the sun, has snapped a shot of the event.
Solar Flares
According to SciTechDaily, solar flares are huge explosions that take place on the sun's surface. This leads to the release of huge amounts of energy that may disrupt several technological systems across the earth. The strong energy bursts may also disturb the ionosphere of the earth. It could also interfere with satellite navigation signals, high-frequency radio communications, and electrical power grids.
On top of this, these flares may also pose serious risks to astronauts and spacecraft. The expulsion of radiation and particles with high energy can threaten the welfare of the astronauts and damage the sensitive equipment in the craft. In serious cases, these events may also significantly disrupt vital systems, such as GPS and satellite communication.
Space agencies and scientists closely monitor the sun's activity and how it affects the space environment and atmosphere on earth.
According to Space, strong flares are usually accompanied by CMEs (Coronal Mass Ejections), which expel huge solar plasma that rockets into space at a rate of a million miles per hour. Such clouds may lead to geomagnetic storms across the earth. This, in turn, may affect the orbiting craft and power grids.
Recent X-Class Solar Flare
The Sun emitted a strong solar flare on March 3, 2023, peaking at 12:52 ET. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured an image of the event, which was classified as X2.1. https://t.co/2bkwGSlVp4 pic.twitter.com/EcOxPpVNzu
— NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun) March 3, 2023
NASA reports that this recent solar flare has been classified as an X2.1 flare. When a solar flare is classified as an "X-class," it means that the eruption is stronger. The number also offers data regarding the strength of the flare.
As per Space, the flare erupted from a sunspot known as AR 3234. The radiation emitted by the flare led to a shortwave radio blackout across northern and southern America. Ham radio operators and aviators could have noticed signal loss and odd effects in propagation at frequencies that do not go over 30 MHz for around an hour after the X-class flare took place.
As for CMEs, Space reports that it is unclear whether a CME also erupted with the X-class flare or if any CME is heading towards earth.
Heightened Solar Activity
The recent X-class flare-up was not sporadic and sudden. Lately, the sun has been remarkably active, releasing several strong flares and CMEs.
Solar activities go through increases and decreases over a cycle that lasts 11 years. According to Mashable, scientists already know much about this 11-year cycle because of centuries' worth of observations. These long observations have revealed that this cycle has persisted for over four centuries.
At present, Solar Cycle 25 is ongoing. This cycle started in 2019 when there was a quieting of solar activity, including solar flares, sunspots, and more. This is known as a solar minimum.
Space notes that the sun is currently in the cycle's active phase. Hence, it is important to look out for more eruptions.
Check out more news and information on the Sun in Science Times.
