The Biggest Solar Flare Since 2017 Has Erupted From The Sun – And Earth Is In The Firing Line

The Sun has just unleashed the most powerful solar flare of this solar cycle. On October 3, 2024, at 8:10 a.m. EDT (1210 GMT), a massive X-class flare peaked, measuring X9.05, and caused immediate shortwave radio blackouts over parts of Africa and Europe.

This colossal solar eruption emanated from sunspot group AR3842, which had already drawn attention earlier with a powerful X7.1 flare and a coronal mass ejection (CME) on October 1.

The recent X9.05 flare was accompanied by another Earth-directed coronal mass ejection, according to space weather forecaster Sara Housseal, who confirmed the CME on social media. These CMEs are expected to hit Earth’s magnetosphere between October 4 and 6, triggering widespread auroral displays. Housseal said that aurora watchers might get the chance to witness enhanced northern and southern lights during this period.

CMEs are streams of charged particles that can induce geomagnetic storms when they collide with Earth’s magnetic field. These interactions produce vibrant light displays known as auroras, the northern lights in the Northern Hemisphere and the southern lights in the Southern Hemisphere. When these ions reach the Earth’s atmosphere, they interact with gases, releasing energy in the form of dazzling lights.

This solar event is remarkable, being the strongest flare of the current solar cycle, surpassing the activity seen over the past seven years. The last time solar flares of this magnitude occurred was in September 2017, when X13.3 and X11.8 flares were recorded at the end of the previous solar cycle. Solar activity follows an 11-year cycle, with varying intensity of flares and sunspots during this period.

Solar flares are categorized by their intensity, with X-class flares being the most powerful. M-class flares are ten times less intense than X-class, followed by C-class, B-class, and A-class flares, which have progressively weaker impacts. X-class flares are further divided by numbers to indicate their relative strength, with today’s X9.05 flare standing out as a rare event.

If you’re interested in monitoring space weather and tracking auroral activity, there are several apps available. “My Aurora Forecast & Alerts” and “Space Weather Live” are useful tools for receiving real-time updates and forecasts based on your location.