Sun Unleashes X2.8 Solar Flare in Stunning Display of Solar Activity

The Sun emitted a powerful X2.8 solar flare on Thursday at 10:30 p.m. IST, the strongest since 2017. Captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, the flare caused a temporary shortwave radio blackout across the Americas. A type 1 solar radio burst was reported by the United States Air Force, originating from the leading edge of a coronal mass ejection (CME). The CME, while not squarely directed at Earth, has an Earth-directed component that may lead to geomagnetic storms on Sunday (16 December). This event, though robust, is smaller than the 2003 flare estimated at X45.

The Sun emitted a powerful X2.8 solar flare on Thursday at 10:30 p.m. IST, the strongest since 2017. Captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, the flare caused a temporary shortwave radio blackout across the Americas. A type 1 solar radio burst was reported by the United States Air Force, originating from the leading edge of a coronal mass ejection (CME). The CME, while not squarely directed at Earth, has an Earth-directed component that may lead to geomagnetic storms on Sunday (16 December). This event, though robust, is smaller than the 2003 flare estimated at X45.

The Sun emitted a powerful X2.8 solar flare on Thursday at 10:30 p.m. IST, the strongest since 2017. Captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, the flare caused a temporary shortwave radio blackout across the Americas. A type 1 solar radio burst was reported by the United States Air Force, originating from the leading edge of a coronal mass ejection (CME). The CME, while not squarely directed at Earth, has an Earth-directed component that may lead to geomagnetic storms on Sunday (16 December). This event, though robust, is smaller than the 2003 flare estimated at X45.

This story involves 1 source and may affect public understanding of solar flare / astronomy.