On the morning of February 23, a powerful class M flare was recorded on the Sun. This was reported at the Institute of Applied Geophysics (FSBI "IPG").
On February 23 at 05:13 Moscow time, an M4.9 flare lasting 23 minutes was recorded in the X-ray range in group of spots 4001 (N25W82).
Solar flares, depending on the power of X-ray radiation, are divided into five classes: A, B, C, M and X. The minimum class A0.0 corresponds to a radiation power at the Earth's orbit of 10 nW per 1 sq. m.
When moving to the next letter, the power increases by 10 times. Flares are usually accompanied by emissions of solar plasma, the clouds of which, reaching the Earth, can provoke magnetic storms.
Solar flares of class M are medium flares from the so-called large ones. In total, there are five categories in their gradation. But they cause radio interference on the day side of the Earth from a slight to moderate level.
Read materials on the topic:
Two strong flares occurred on the Sun
A coronal hole on the Sun is again threatening the Earth: an increase in the solar wind is expected
"The sun is starting to scare": the star "fired" eight strong flares in a day