The sun is not quite over in 2024.
Earlier on Sunday (December 29), sun An X1.1-class solar flare was launched, one of the most powerful types of solar explosions possible, which could be the last major flare in 2024. flare The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) erupted from the northwest region on the Earth-facing side of the sun at 2:18 a.m. Eastern Time (0718 GMT) and caused a strong storm in parts of the Earth. Radio blackout. wrote in the update Sunday.
“Analysis is currently underway to determine whether there is a correlation coronal mass ejectionand any potential impacts,” SWPC officials wrote in an update. Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are massive eruptions of solar material that, when aimed at Earth, can amplify displays of the Aurora Borealis and disrupt satellites and power infrastructure on Earth.
SWPC officials are tracking the effects of solar flares to determine if a coronal mass ejection event is related. If so, the flare could supercharge aurora A solar-powered fireworks show was held on Earth while celebrating the New Year.
But while the X1.1 solar flare is one of the most powerful types of flares, it is not The biggest solar flares of 2024. This title belongs to October 3rd X9 solar flare. This is the third largest solar flare since 2011 and the fifth largest since 2005.
SWPC officials viewed X1.1. Instruments aboard the GOES-16 weather satellite caused the flare to erupt. GOES-16 is part of a fleet of NOAA and NASA spacecraft that continuously monitors the Sun for solar flares and other phenomena space weather event.