Fergie's Tech Blog

Sun Unleashes Major Solar Flare

A solar flare recorded early on Dec. 5, 2006.
Image source: NOAA / SEC

The Sun is just past its low-point in an 11-year cycle of activity. But big eruptions can happen anytime. One just did.

A major X-9 flare erupted this morning. It emanated from a large sunspot, numbered 929, which is just coming into view around the eastern limb of the Sun.

The flare lifted off the Sun at 5:35 a.m. ET. It was directed away from Earth. But this sunspot will rotate toward the center of the Sun over the next few days and could offer up more major blasts that could take direct aim at our planet, forecasters say.

Flares of this magnitude (X-class flares are all major) can damage satellites and disrupt telecommunications on Earth. They can also threaten astronauts in space. NASA sometimes orders astronauts aboard the International Space Station to retreat to the most well-protected part of the orbiting outpost to avoid excess radiation exposure. Spacewalks are avoided during solar storms.

posted by Fergie @ 12/05/2006 03:54:00 PM