Sun Shoots Out Biggest Solar Flare In Almost 2 Decades, But Earth Should Be Out Of The Way This Time

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The sun released its largest flare in nearly two decades Tuesday, only days after strong solar storms battered Earth and caused stunning northern lights in unexpected places.

“Not finished yet!” the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration stated in its update.

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Sun Shoots Out Biggest Solar Flare In Almost 2 Decades, But Earth Should Be Out Of The Way This Time

According to NOAA, it is the largest flare of this 11-year solar cycle, which is nearing its peak. The good news is that Earth should be safe this time since the flare erupted on a portion of the sun that rotates away from Earth.

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory caught the dazzling flash of the X-ray flare. It was the strongest flare since 2005, with an X8.7 rating.

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Sun Shoots Out Biggest Solar Flare In Almost 2 Decades, But Earth Should Be Out Of The Way This Time

Bryan Brasher of NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colorado, believes it may have been much stronger after scientists gathered data from other sources.

It comes after nearly a week of coronal plasma flares and mass ejections that threatened to disrupt power and communications on Earth and in space. Brasher stated that an ejection connected with Tuesday’s flare appeared to be directed away from our planet, and further investigation is underway.

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Sun Shoots Out Biggest Solar Flare In Almost 2 Decades, But Earth Should Be Out Of The Way This Time

According to NASA, the weekend geomagnetic storm forced one of its environmental satellites to rotate unexpectedly due to reduced altitude from space weather and enter a precautionary slumber known as safe mode. The seven astronauts on the International Space Station were urged to stay in places with strong radiation shielding. The crew was never in danger, according to NASA.

SOURCE – (AP)