A flare of the penultimate power class M1.0 was recorded on the Sun. According to the Institute of Applied Geophysics, it occurred in the morning of October 19 at 04:56 Moscow time in spot group No. 4246 and lasted 18 minutes.
Solar flares are divided by power into classes A, B, C, M and X. Class M flares are considered strong and can be accompanied by plasma ejections that can cause magnetic storms on Earth.
According to the Solar Astronomy Laboratory of the IKI RAS, the geomagnetic situation on Sunday will remain moderately disturbed, weak magnetic storms are possible. Activity on the Sun is gradually decreasing and does not pose risks to the Earth.
On the night of October 19, residents of the north-west of Russia observed a polar aurora of rare beauty. The most intense glow was observed between 22:30 and 23:30 Moscow time. Later, the auroral oval shifted towards Scandinavia and Iceland, but remained visible in the Russian north for some time.