Scientists at the Solar Astronomy Laboratory of the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences have recorded a rare, large-scale active region on the Sun — region 4246, which literally went to the far side of the star "in smoke and flames." This zone was extremely energetic and managed to generate over a hundred flares, including 25 strong events of class M.
According to data from IKI RAS, large emissions of plasma began from the region on October 15, some of which formed in the direction of the Earth's orbital plane. However, by this time, the active center was already leaving the Sun–Earth line, so only the very first emissions could potentially be dangerous for our planet. Subsequent flares occurred at a safe distance.
On October 18 alone, five class M flares were recorded in region 4246 — powerful enough to cause magnetic storms if they were directed at Earth.
"The energy of this region is colossal, it is even difficult to quantify," the researchers note. Explosions are still ongoing there, but they pose no threat to our planet.
Active regions on the Sun are clusters of magnetic fields where energy accumulates and is suddenly released in the form of flares and coronal mass ejections. These phenomena can disrupt radio communications, affect the operation of satellites, and even cause power outages if directed at Earth.