NASA Announces X6.3 Solar Flare

• 24 Feb 2024

On 22nd February, 2024, NASA announced an intense X6.3 solar flare from sunspot AR3590, impacting radio communications and space technology.

Key Points

• Intense Solar Flare Activity: NASA confirms an extremely strong X6.3 solar flare emitted by sunspot AR3590 on February 22, as the Sun nears solar maximum.
• Solar Flare Classification: X-class solar flares denote the most intense bursts of energy, with higher numbers indicating greater strength.
• Potential Impact on Technology: Solar flares pose risks to radio communications, power grids, navigation signals, and space assets, including satellites and spacecraft.
• Upcoming Geomagnetic Storms: A coronal mass ejection (CME) on February 25 may trigger minor G1-class magnetic storms, affecting Earth's magnetic field.
• Beautiful Phenomenon of Auroras: Despite potential disruptions, geomagnetic storms also offer the spectacle of auroras, caused by interactions with Earth's atmosphere.
• Sunspot Dynamics and Solar Cycle: Sunspot AR3590 exhibits an unstable magnetic field, indicative of solar cycle peaks, with cycle 25 expected to peak this year.