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The Universe 2. Solar System 3. The Sun Biggest solar flare since 2017 erupts from sun and Earth is in the firing line (video) News By Daisy Dobrijevic published 3 October 2024 On Oct. 3, the sun released the most powerful solar flare this solar cycle, a colossal X9.05 eruption. * * * * * * * Comments (1) When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here's how it works. The sun has just unleashed its most powerful solar flare this cycle, a colossal X-class eruption. The X9.05 solar flare peaked at 8:10 a.m. EDT (1210 GMT), triggering shortwave radio blackouts over Africa and Europe, the sunlit portion of Earth at the time of eruption. The solar flare emanated from the sunspot group AR3842, which has made headlines before. On Oct. 1, the same sunspot region fired off a powerful X7.1 solar flare and unleashed a coronal mass ejection (CME) -- a plume of plasma and magnetic field -- which is currently barreling toward Earth. That incoming CME is expected to hit Earth between Oct. 3 and Oct. 5, possibly triggering widespread auroras. x flare eruption on october 3, 2024 On Oct. 3, the sun released the most powerful solar flare this solar cycle, a colossal X9.05 eruption -- and it's heading for Earth. (Image credit: NASA / SDO and the AIA, EVE, and HMI science teams / helioviewer.org) An Earth-directed CME did indeed follow the monster flare, space weather forecaster and meteorologist Sara Housseal confirmed in a post on X. This could be excellent news for aurora chasers, as CMEs can trigger geomagnetic storms, which in turn can result in dramatically boosted auroral displays. "As of right now, I would anticipate an impact at Earth late 5th -- early 6th," Housseal wrote. Related: Where and when to see the northern lights in 2024 CMEs carry electrically charged particles known as ions, and when these collide with Earth's magnetosphere, they can trigger geomagnetic storms. During these storms, the ions interact with gases in Earth's atmosphere, releasing energy in the form of light. This phenomenon is recognized as the northern lights, or aurora borealis, in the Northern Hemisphere, and as the southern lights, or aurora australis, in the Southern Hemisphere. graphic detailing the effects of the major x class solar flare and widespread radio blackouts Keep an eye on swpc.noaa.gov for the latest updates. (Image credit: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center) We will have to wait what happens in the following days. Space weather is fickle and unpredictable, so it certainly keeps the forecasters on their toes. One thing we know that did accompany the major X flare was a radio blackout. Breaking space news direct to your inbox Sign up to the newsletter for the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more! [ ][ ]Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands[ ]Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors[Sign me up] By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. shortwave radio blackout map showing the areas most affected by the radio blackouts, mainly Europe and Africa. Shortwave radio blackout map from NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center. (Image credit: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center) The shortwave radio blackouts experienced over Europe and Africa were a result of the radiation from the solar flare reaching Earth and ionizing the upper atmosphere upon arrival. This ionization creates a denser environment for high-frequency shortwave radio signals, which facilitate long-distance communication, to travel through. As these radio waves pass through ionized (electrically charged) layers, they lose energy due to increased collisions with electrons, which can weaken or entirely absorb the radio signals. Today's record-breaking solar flare was the most powerful one in this solar cycle so far. In fact, it was the most powerful solar flare in over seven years! Back in September 2017, two colossal flares measuring X13.3 and X11.8 were reported in the declining phase of the previous solar cycle. (Solar activity waxes and wanes over the course of an 11-year cycle.) RELATED STORIES: -- Aurora alert: Possible geomagnetic storm could spark northern lights as far south as Illinois and Oregon -- The worst solar storms in history -- Sun unleashes monster X7.1 flare that could supercharge Earth auroras (video) Solar flares are classified by size into different classes, with X-class flares being the most powerful. M-class flares are 10 times less powerful than X-class, followed by C-class flares, which are 10 times weaker than M-class. B-class flares are 10 times weaker than C-class, and A-class flares are 10 times weaker than B-class and have no noticeable impact on Earth. Each class is further divided by numbers from 1 to 10 (and beyond for X-class flares) to indicate the flare's relative strength. If you're interested in tracking space weather and knowing when and where to spot auroras, I suggest downloading a space weather app that provides forecasts based on your location. One option I use is "My Aurora Forecast & Alerts," available for both iOS and Android. However, any similar app should work well. I also use the "Space Weather Live" app, which is available on iOS and Android, to get a deeper understanding of whether the current space weather conditions are favorable for aurora sightings. Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com. Daisy Dobrijevic Daisy Dobrijevic Social Links Navigation Reference Editor Daisy Dobrijevic joined Space.com in February 2022 having previously worked for our sister publication All About Space magazine as a staff writer. Before joining us, Daisy completed an editorial internship with the BBC Sky at Night Magazine and worked at the National Space Centre in Leicester, U.K., where she enjoyed communicating space science to the public. In 2021, Daisy completed a PhD in plant physiology and also holds a Master's in Environmental Science, she is currently based in Nottingham, U.K. Daisy is passionate about all things space, with a penchant for solar activity and space weather. She has a strong interest in astrotourism and loves nothing more than a good northern lights chase! More about sun NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft captured this view of an X7.1 solar flare erupting on Oct. 1, 2024 Sun unleashes monster X7.1 flare that could supercharge Earth auroras (video) a bright white flare erupts from the fiery surface of the sun Scientists have found evidence of past extreme solar storms. Their return could be disastrous for our technology-based societies Latest two-panel image. In the left panel, dozens of small galaxies are scattered on the black background of space. Just to the left of the center, there is a long, red arc. At its left is a cluster of a few white galaxies that look like a glowing orb. To the right of the center, the red arc and glowing orb of galaxies at the left appear to be mirrored. The curved and distorted galaxy image on the right side is highlighted with a white box. Lines extend from the box's corners to the right panel, which shows an enlarged view of the curved galaxy. Three faint points of light are circled. James Webb Space Telescope finds supernova 'Hope' that could finally resolve major astronomy debate See more latest > See all comments (1) [ ] 1 Comment Comment from the forums * Thr WholeTruth No starter, the damaging rays only take 8 minutes to get to earth. Been here and gone. Reply * View All 1 Comment Most Popular [missing-im] Top 'safety risk' for the ISS is a leak that has been ongoing for 5 years, NASA audit finds [missing-im] Aurora alert: Possible geomagnetic storm could spark northern lights as far south as Illinois and Oregon tonight [missing-im] One of our favorite star projectors now at lowest price in over six months [missing-im] Mass extinctions on Earth can help us find alien life in the cosmos. 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At its left is a cluster of a few white galaxies that look like a glowing orb. To the right of the center, the red arc and glowing orb of galaxies at the left appear to be mirrored. The curved and distorted galaxy image on the right side is highlighted with a white box. Lines extend from the box's corners to the right panel, which shows an enlarged view of the curved galaxy. Three faint points of light are circled. 1 James Webb Space Telescope finds supernova 'Hope' that could finally resolve major astronomy debate 2. 2 When is the next solar eclipse? 3. 3 How to watch ULA's 2nd-ever Vulcan Centaur rocket launch on Oct. 4 4. 4 Curiosity Mars rover's wheels are more battered than ever -- but they still work 5. 5 Can you see Earth's new 'mini-moon' with the naked eye? Space is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. 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