An X-class solar flare erupted on December 29, 2023, sending a burst of solar energy toward Earth that may enhance auroras just in time for New Year celebrations. The flare, classified as X1.1, is one of the most powerful types of solar explosions and lasted for 28 minutes.
According to Professor Sergey Bogachev, head of the Solar Astronomy Laboratory at the Institute of Space Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the flare was recorded at 10:08 a.m. Moscow time. Scientists observed the peak of radiation at 10:18 a.m. Moscow time in sunspot group 3936 (N10W33). "The explosive phase of the event lasted about half an hour," Bogachev clarified, according to Gazeta.ru.
During this time, the number of flares on the Sun nearly doubled compared to previous intervals, with one X-class flare and eight M-class flares reported. "Until now, none of these flares had been assigned the highest class X," Bogachev noted, according to RBC.
"The flare occurred in a region with possible impact on our planet," Bogachev indicated, according to Gazeta.ru. "Preliminarily, the arrival of mass ejections with moderate magnetic storms to Earth is considered likely from December 31 to January 1," he stated, adding that "more accurate information will appear in the middle of today's day."
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) is tracking the impacts of the solar flare to determine if a coronal mass ejection (CME) was associated with it. "Analysis is currently underway to determine if there was an associated coronal mass ejection, and any potential impacts," SWPC officials wrote in an update, according to Space.com. CMEs are eruptions of solar material that, when aimed at Earth, can amplify northern lights displays and interfere with satellites and power infrastructure.
If a CME is confirmed, the flare could supercharge auroras on Earth, providing a spectacular display for New Year celebrations. This would be a welcome event for skywatchers hoping to witness intensified northern lights at the turn of the year.
On December 24, the Solar Astronomy Laboratory of the Institute of Space Research and the Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences reported a sharp increase in the probability of large X-class flares forming on the Sun. Specialists recorded several precursors of large flares, including a noticeable increase in the background X-ray radiation of the Sun and a rapid increase in the area of solar active centers. The highest risks were associated with two groups of sunspots numbered 3932 and 3933, as stated by RBC.
Throughout December 29, fourteen more flares of classes M and X were recorded. According to space weather monitoring data, the most powerful flares were the X1.1 at 10:18 a.m. Moscow time and an M7.1 at 6:09 p.m. Moscow time, reported Gazeta.ru. At least one of the X-class flares occurred in a region potentially capable of causing geomagnetic effects on Earth.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq