In a spectacular celestial event, the sun erupted with its most potent solar flare in over six years, causing widespread radio blackouts, especially in South America. As the sun’s activity continues, auroras could illuminate the skies as far south as New York in the East and Idaho in the West within the next few days.
This extraordinary flare, classified as an X2.8 flare, marks the pinnacle of Solar Cycle 25’s intensity and stands as the most powerful solar eruption since the remarkable storms of September 2017, according to SpaceWeather.com. The Space Weather Prediction Center, a part of NOAA, has dubbed it an “amazing event” and possibly “one of the largest solar radio events ever recorded.”
Solar flare can affect power grids, radio and navigational signals
The impact of the solar flare extended across the nation, causing radio communication interference with aircraft, as reported by the SWPC. NASA defines solar flares as intense bursts of energy from the sun, with the potential to affect various Earth systems such as radio communications, power grids, navigation signals, and even spacecraft and astronauts.
The flare’s aftermath includes the monitoring of a potential Earth-directed coronal mass ejection (CME) by the prediction center. Coronal mass ejections are clouds of magnetized gas ejected from the sun into space at speeds ranging from 12 to 1,250 miles per second, capable of triggering geomagnetic storms on Earth that give rise to stunning auroras.
Forecasters from the SWPC issued an alert for a G2 “moderate” level geomagnetic storm for the upcoming Saturday and Sunday, indicating the possibility of auroras visible as far south as New York and Idaho.
Auroras are expected to peak next year
Looking ahead, aurora enthusiasts can anticipate an exciting 2024. Forecasts from the Space Weather Prediction Center in October revealed that solar forces producing auroras are expected to peak next year at a higher and quicker level than previously predicted by experts in December 2019. The updated prediction now places the peak of Solar Cycle 25 between January and October of 2024. Get ready for an awe-inspiring display of celestial beauty!
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