Powerful Solar Flare Hits Earth Triggering Geomagnetic Storms and Auroras
The Sun kicked off October with a massive solar flare, marking the start of the spooky season with an X7.1 flare and coronal mass ejection (CME) on October 1. This flare is the second most powerful of the current solar cycle and ranks among the top 30 strongest solar flares in the last three decades.
While Earth is not in immediate danger, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center has forecast geomagnetic storms between October 3 and 5. These storms, ranging from minor to strong, will result from the solar particles rocketing toward Earth as the CME pushes through the Solar System.
Solar flares and CMEs are typical occurrences during the Sun’s peak activity cycle, which scientists believe is currently underway. Solar flares are sudde...