Wednesday, 6 September 2017

BOOM! More signs and wonders: X9.3-class solar flare-the strongest solar flare in more than a decade EXPLODES from giant sunspot AR2673

NOAA



More signs and wonders: X9.3-class solar flare--the strongest solar flare in more than a decade on its way to Earth.
It is the 14th biggest flare since 1976.
The massive flare is even more extraordinary as we are now entering Solar Minimum 
 At 1202 UT, sunspot AR2673 unleashed a major X9.3-class solar flare--the strongest solar flare in more than a decade. X-rays and UV radiation from the blast ionized the top of Earth's atmosphere, causing a strong shortwave radio blackout over Europe, Africa, and the Atlantic Ocean.
A CME hurled toward Earth also by sunspot AR2673 on Sept.4th is due to arrive later today. NOAA forecasters say the CME's impact could spark moderately-strong G2-class geomagnetic storms with isolated periods of strong G3-class storming on Sept. 6th and 7th. 

Above: The extreme UV flash from today's X9-class flare. Credit: Solar Dynamics Observatory

Spaceweather.com

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