NASA It recorded a powerful solar flare that peaked at 03:19 ET. This intense event, classified as an X1.8 flare, has the potential to disrupt radio signals, navigation systems and power grids on Earth and poses a risk to astronauts and spacecraft in orbit.

solar flares They are sudden, intense bursts of energy originating from the Sun’s surface, usually occurring near sunspots where magnetic fields are quite intense and unstable. These powerful bursts emit enormous amounts of electromagnetic radiation across the spectrum, from radio waves to X-rays and gamma rays.

Flares are classified by density; “Class X” refers to the most powerful flares capable of disrupting communications, GPS, and power grids on Earth. Flares also pose a radiation risk to astronauts and spacecraft. Solar flares are part of the Sun’s natural cycle of activity and often occur in conjunction with coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which send charged particles into space and increase the potential impact on Earth’s technology and infrastructure.

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) is a satellite designed to study the Sun’s activity and its effects on Earth. Launched in 2010, SDO continuously provides high-resolution images and data about the Sun’s magnetic field, atmosphere, and solar emissions.

This observatory observes solar events such as sunspots, solar flares, and coronal mass ejections (CMEs), capturing details at different wavelengths to help scientists understand solar dynamics and predict space weather. SDO research is critical to protecting technology and infrastructure on Earth, as well as ensuring the safety of astronauts in space.