Solar activity has intensified sharply: on April 24 at 04:07 Moscow time, an X2.5 flare was recorded — the highest power class. This was reported by the Laboratory of Solar Astronomy of IKI RAN and ISZF SO RAN. The event became the strongest in approximately the past two and a half months.
The flare was accompanied by a major plasma ejection, clearly visible in images from space telescopes. At the same time, its center was shifted toward the edge of the solar disk — by more than 60° relative to the direction of Earth, and the plasma itself is moving aside.
According to preliminary estimates, this reduces the risks for the planet: no direct impact is expected, and only a weak "glancing" effect is possible if the cloud brushes Earth with its edge. Specialists will be able to draw precise conclusions after additional modeling during the day.
For comparison, a more powerful X4.2 flare was last observed on February 4 — at that time, the series of solar events became one of the strongest in this century.
There are no signs of declining solar activity so far. New major flares during the day cannot be ruled out.
Read more on the topic:
