The active region 4366 on the Sun unleashed 66 powerful flares, surpassing the previous high for the 21st century.
A fresh peak in the quantity of strong flares originating from a solitary active region has been documented on the Sun. According to the Solar Astronomy Laboratory of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Space Research Institute, region number 4366 generated 66 flares of M-class or greater, establishing a new record for the 21st century.
The NOAA catalog has just been updated. The active center 4366, currently observable from Earth, was credited with three additional M-category flares. This brings its tally to 66 incidents, as announced via the laboratory’s Telegram channel.
The former record holder was region 3664, which was responsible for 64 high-power flares and induced the most intense geomagnetic storm witnessed in the last two decades.
Interestingly, the activity of region 4366 noticeably diminished three days prior, leading researchers to question its capacity to break the record. Nevertheless, a recent barrage of eruptions has altered this outlook.
Solar flares are categorized into five classes based on their X-ray emission intensity: A, B, C, M, and X. Flares rated M-class or higher possess the capability to trigger geomagnetic storms on Earth. The ramifications of such storms include disruptions to communication, navigation, and power supply networks. Furthermore, they can extend the visibility range of auroras.
While ongoing debate persists, the concrete impact of geomagnetic storms on human health remains unproven.
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