Solar Flares

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  Study Identifies Plasma Formation as a Pseudostreamer

  ESA’s Solar Orbiter recorded a giant plasma structure extending millions of kilometres from the Sun’s surface. The footage, taken on October 12, 2022, shows a swirling motion in the solar wind, a phenomenon never observed before. Scientists identified the formation as a pseudostreamer caused by a solar flare near the Sun’s north pole. The pla...

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  Massive X1.1-class Solar Flare Causes Radio Blackouts Across America

  A strong X1.1-class solar flare erupted from sunspot AR4046 on March 28, 2025. The flare caused major radio blackouts in North and South America, affecting high-frequency communications. A coronal mass ejection (CME) followed the flare but is not expected to hit Earth. More solar activity is anticipated from sunspot AR4046 and AR4048, with a 15% ch...

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  X-Class Solar Flare From Emerging Sunspot Causes Radio Blackouts

  An unexpected X1.1-class solar flare erupted from sunspot AR4046, triggering shortwave radio blackouts over North and South America. The flare originated from the sun’s eastern limb and was accompanied by a coronal mass ejection that is not expected to impact Earth. Space weather experts have warned that the sunspot will face Earth in the coming ...

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  Aditya-L1’s SUIT Telescope Captures First-Ever Solar Flare Kernel, Revealing Unseen Solar Activity

  India’s Aditya-L1 mission has achieved a historic milestone with its Solar Ultra-violet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) capturing the first-ever solar flare kernel in the near-ultraviolet spectrum. This unprecedented observation confirms energy transfer across different layers of the Sun's atmosphere, advancing the understanding of solar flares and spac...

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  AI Could Have Predicted May 2024 Solar Storms, Study Claims

  Traditional methods which rely on human analysis of solar images and data, often provide less accurate and timely forecasts.

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  Study Finds Coronal Loop Flickers Could Predict Solar Flares Hours in Advance

  NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory has revealed a potential breakthrough in predicting solar flares. Scientists observed brightness fluctuations in coronal loops—plasma structures in the Sun's atmosphere—that intensify hours before solar flares occur. This discovery, with a prediction accuracy of 60–80%, may provide 2–6 hours of advance warn...

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  ESA Uses Solar Orbiter to Turn Solar Flares into Sound, Offering New Insights

  The European Space Agency (ESA), in collaboration with NASA, has used data from the Solar Orbiter mission to convert solar flares into audible sound. By mapping solar flare data into blue circles and pairing them with tones, a new way to experience solar activity has been created. This process is linked to the sun’s 11-year solar cycle, with curr...

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  Solar Missions in 2025: Heliophysics Projects and Spacecrafts That Will Study the Sun

  The study of the sun, its activity, and effects across the solar system will advance in 2025. With Solar Cycle 25 peaking, six NASA missions planned, and new research priorities outlined, scientists are poised to address long-standing questions about solar dynamics and their impacts. Missions such as IMAP, ESCAPADE, and PUNCH will investigate solar...

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  Massive Solar Flare Closes 2024 With Radio Blackouts and Auroral Possibilities

  An X1.1-class solar flare on December 29, 2024, caused strong radio blackouts on Earth, marking another significant event in the increasingly active Solar Cycle 25. Detected by NOAA's GOES-16 satellite, the eruption raises questions about a potential coronal mass ejection, which could amplify auroras during New Year celebrations. While impactful, t...

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  Solar Cycle 25: How the Sun’s Peak Activity Will Impact Earth in 2025

  Solar Cycle 25 continues with high activity levels in 2025. Increased solar flares and geomagnetic storms are anticipated, with risks to satellite systems and power grids. Widespread auroras could also light up low-latitude skies. Partial solar eclipses are scheduled for March and September in select regions. Observations indicate strong solar phen...

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  Top 10 Solar Flares of 2024: The Most Powerful Solar Events and Their Impact

  The Sun experienced significant solar activity in 2024, with over 50 X-class solar flares recorded. These powerful flares, originating from active regions like AR 13664, were accompanied by coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that caused geomagnetic storms and spectacular auroras across the globe. Among the strongest flares was the X9.0 recorded on Octob...

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  Parker Solar Probe to Break Records with Historic Sun Flyby on December 24

  NASA's Parker Solar Probe is set for a record-breaking approach to the sun on December 24, travelling at 430,000 mph and reaching within 3.8 million miles of the surface. The spacecraft, equipped with advanced heat shields, will navigate solar plasma plumes and potentially an active eruption during this phase of heightened solar activity. This flyb...

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  X-Class Solar Flare From Sunspot 3912 Causes Radio Blackouts in Southern Africa

  A powerful X-class solar flare erupted from sunspot region 3912 on December 8, disrupting high-frequency radio communications in southern Africa. The flare, accompanied by a coronal mass ejection (CME), ionised Earth’s upper atmosphere, absorbing radio signals and causing blackouts in areas exposed to peak solar activity. Experts predict the CME ...

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  Solar 'Battle Zone' Could be Even Worse Than Solar Maximum, Experts Warn

  Experts warn that the sun's next phase, the "battle zone," could result in increased geomagnetic activity, lasting until 2028. This period could bring heightened solar flares and coronal holes, which may cause disruptions to satellites in low-Earth orbit. Space weather experts, including Scott McIntosh from Lynker Space, have noted that this phase ...

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  Powerful Solar Flare Disrupts Radio Signals And Poses Global Infrastructure Risks

  A powerful X-class solar flare erupted, causing shortwave radio blackouts over the Atlantic, South America, and Africa.