The first half of 2022 saw sunspot and solar flare activity on the sun increase significantly, including some of the most powerful flares seen in several years. "The next sunspot cycle will be 30% to 50% stronger than the previous one," she says. How do solar flares affect Earth? If the upcoming solar maximum truly is one for the record books, it will come at a time when our presence in orbit and our reliance on satellite communications has grown exponentially. The latest forecast from NOAAs Space Weather Prediction Center puts the odds of an X flare over the next three days at just five percent. Aurora borealis was recently visible in New York during the October solar storm. The Solar Cycle 25 Prediction Panel, an international group of experts co-sponsored by NASA and NOAA,predicted that this would be a below-average solar cycle, like the one before it Solar Cycle 24. X-class denotes the most intense flares, while the number provides more information about its strength. For example: The key to making dramatic improvements in our ability to predict and mitigate such events lies in finally understanding Earths ionosphere-thermosphere system. A ball of hydrogen and helium gas about 93 million miles from Earth, the Sun has a roughly 11 year solar cycle. Next expected CME:No new coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were observed in available coronagraph imagery. X-class denotes the most intense flares, while the number provides more information about its strength.To see how such space weather may affect Earth, please visit NOAAs Space Weather Prediction Center https://spaceweather.gov/, the U.S. governments official source for space weather forecasts, watches, warnings, and alerts. Meanwhile, two new active regions have rotated into view on the suns east limb (edge), AR3240 and AR3241. When intense electrical currents driven by space weather flow overhead in the I-T system, they can produce enormous mirror currents in power lines and pipelines. Its all happening due to the combined effects of the CME and the influence of high-speed solar wind from acoronal hole. This image was captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory and shows a blend of light from the 171 and 131 angstrom wavelengths. iPhone 14 long term review: Stands tall and strong no matter what you throw at it, Got your first iPhone? The explosion happened at 17:52 UTC on March 3, 2023, at the edge of the suns northwest limb. March 21, 2023 ;K-index 4 (medium solar storm)
Solar flares are rated into different classes based on their strength, or energy output, and the effect a flare will have on Earth depends on what class it is (B, C, M, and X classes, with X being the most intense). The official prediction put out by NOAA and NASAin 2020 foresaw a weaker-than-average cycle, similar to Cycle 24. In fact, it barely can be seen. Its not labeled yet as of this writing (11 UTC on March 3). The number of flares also increases as the Sun nears solar maximum, and decreases as the Sun nears solar minimum. Heres what my camera saw after I went to bed. We study flares by detecting the light they emit. Overall, weve seen an increase in flare production in the past day consisting of 21 flares: 19 C, one M and one X class flare. This is the time it takes . View our Privacy Policy. You may opt-out by. Can we predict when a solar flare will occur? Observatory image shows Region 486 that unleashed a record flare last week (lower left) November 18, 2003 on the sun. To see how such space weather may affect Earth, please visit NOAAs Space Weather Prediction Center https://spaceweather.gov/, the U.S. governments official source for space weather forecasts, watches, warnings, and alerts. Realme GT3 launched at MWC 2023, Catching Pokemon in dreams? During that time it moves from a period of solar minimum to a solar maximum. The latterthe peak of the current Solar Cycle 25is expected to occur in 2024 or 2025, making this year theoretically one of the most powerful periods for the Sun for almost a decade. View our Privacy Policy. SWPC is part of the National Weather Service and is one of the nine National Centers for Environmental Prediction. Studying how this cycle plays out could help cultivate that understanding, but it also threatens to disrupt our society on a scale never quite seen before. Solar flares are also a threat to orbiting astronauts. Something went wrong while submitting the form. X-class denotes the most intense flares, while the number provides more information about its strength. X-class denotes the most intense flares, while the number provides more information about its strength. Solar minimum refers to the period when the number of sunspots is lowest and solar activity, including flares, is lower; solar maximum occurs in the years when sunspots are most numerous and flares are more common. This region also produced five flares out of the nine of the past day. March 9, 2023 ;K-index 2 (low solar storm)
The sun produced an X-class flare on March 20, 2022; this data from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory shows the extreme ultraviolet light of the flare in yellow. Not all impacts of a large solar flare would necessarily be negative. March 16, 2023 ;K-index 3 (low solar storm)
The Sun emitted a mid-level solar flare on March 31, 2022, peaking at 2:35 p.m. EDT. These MUST-do things that you should follow immediately, Best water-resistant phones to buy on Holi: iPhone 14 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, more, Amazon Prime Gaming Free Games March 2023: Baldur's Gate, Book of Demons and more, 5 smartphones to gift on Womens Day: iPhone 14 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and more, World's fastest 240W charging! The huge solar flare, which registered as. SpaceWeatherLive.com is a near live website where you can follow space weather from the Sun to Earth and know exactly when you can see aurora. While the Arctic and Antarctic Circles are typically the best places to view aurora, during an intense geomagnetic storm the auroral oval increases in size so people who live in areas that normally dont experience aurorasuch as the USA and Western Europesometimes get to see them. There were only C flares over the past day. Do flares occur on other stars? These bursts often last a few minutes, though they are sometimes longer. Fireworks sparked by survivor of stellar collision, Venus and Jupiter will soon share the same tiny part of the evening sky, Observe the constellation Auriga: This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher, Zodiacal light and how to see it: This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher, Explore the constellation Orion: This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher, Mars passes behind the Moon: This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher, Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF): This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher, Venus-Saturn Conjunction: This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher, My First Telescope: This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher, Preview: This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher, STARMUS VI: The out-of-this-world science and arts festival will see speakers including Chris Hadfield and Kip Thorne celebrate 50 years of exploration on Mars, Queen guitarist Brian May and David Eicher launch new astronomy book. A study published in 2019 found the chance of a Carrington-like event occurring before 2029 is less than 1.9 percent. (Photo by Owen Humphreys/PA Images via Getty Images). This rapid energy transfer creates solar flares as well as other kinds of solar eruptions like coronal mass ejections and solar energetic particle events. pic.twitter.com/lZZgKvz0kx, Don Moore (@capture907) February 27, 2023, Absolutely insane display of Kp7 aurora north of #yeg this morning around 510am ? Then, another M8.6-class solar flare hit the continents on March 1. Solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) both involve gigantic explosions of energy, but are otherwise quite different. Flares and solar eruptions can impact radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts. NASAs Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, captured an image of the event. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. So far Solar Cycle 25 has been known for producing sunspots on the Suns far side, but the Jan. 9 events extreme ultraviolet flash was captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) (main image, above). It happened shortly before the suns rotation carried this active region from view. Heres What We Can All Learn, A Psychologist Reveals 4 Ways To Heal And Move On After A Breakup, Revolutionary New Radio Array Will Capture Unprecedented Images, Full Worm Moon 2023: Exactly When To See This Weeks Perfect Alignment Of The Sun And Moon, A Psychologist Offers Three Tips For Dealing With Extreme PMS. The evidence is suddenly everywhere as space weather increases. The sun emitted a strong solar flare on April 30, 2022, peaking at 9:47 a.m. EDT. It also warned that such intense flares and other solar eruptions can impact high-frequency (HF) radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts. The large sunspot on the surface of the sun has been disconcertingly quiet this week, leading some astronomers to worry that a big solar flare may be building. March 8, 2023 ;K-index 3 (low solar storm)
Space weather impacts the Earth's ionosphere in this animation. March 6, 2023 ;K-index 5 (high solar storm)
They are created when the suns magnetic field lines become stressed and break, causing massive explosions of energy from the sun. "Solar events will continue to increase as we near solar maximum in 2025, and our lives and technology on Earth, as well as satellites and astronauts in space, will be impacted.". This flare is classified as an X1 flare. March 18, 2023 ;K-index 2 (low solar storm)
And, late yesterday, just as it was about to be carried out of view by the suns rotation, it blasted out an X2.1 flare. Find answers here! Even if the eruption doesnt come anytime soon, we wont be in the clear for some time. ET on Feb. 17, 2023. This cycle -- Solar Cycle 25 -- was expected to be weaker than average, but some scientists now say it could actually be among the most active since recordkeeping started in the 1700s. (Photo by NASA via Getty Images), A Psychologist Offers 2 Tips To Help You Succeed In A New Romance, NASAs New Moon Rocket Crackles 40 Million Times Greater Than A Bowl Of Rice Krispies, Say Scientists, A Psychologist Gives 3 Tips To Help You Design Your Perfect Work Cave, My TikTok On Friendship Breakups Went Viral. The sun has six labeled sunspot regions. Northern lights and southern lights are caused when solar particles enter the atmosphere and collide with gas particles. So its been a wild ride! Where are the best places to see the 2023 and 2024 solar eclipses? Flares occur on most if not all types of stars (although in that case theyre called stellar rather than solar flares). Know your bank's limit; SBI, HDFC to ICICI, Google Pay releases full list, Happy Holi! GPS positioning experiences errors due to the ionospheric disturbances (in plasma density) that occur on regional scales (a continent or larger). Technicians believed bombs were dropping when it was actually interference from the flare hitting the magnetosphere, Halford says. Eventually, these magnetic fields build up tension and explosively realign, like the sudden release of a twisted rubber band, in a process known as magnetic reconnection. And thats why were still watching! NASAs Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, captured an image of the event. Flares and solar eruptions can impact high-frequency (HF) radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts. Could it be the calm before the storm? former NASA astronomer Dr. Tony Phillips writes on SpaceWeather.com. Who Is Most Likely To Experience A Tornado In March. X-class denotes the most intense flares, while the number provides more information about its strength. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured a moderate-sized solar flare erupting on April 20, 2022. A solar flare is an intense burst of radiation, or light, on the Sun. Sunspot region AR3234 has been a powerhouse during its pass on the Earth-viewed side of our star. A large . March 24, 2023 ;K-index 2 (low solar storm)
This solar flare eruption has affected the entirety of South America, Mexico and large parts of the USA and Canada. This affects military monitoring of the north polar region and communications globally. Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy. The spot itself cannot yet be seen but large, hot, gas-filled loops above this region are visible. 2023 . these come with the warning of a solar . Like earthquakes, the frequency of solar flares depends on their size, with small ones erupting more often than big ones. It was the cherry atop the cake for this powerhouse active region, which also gave us 10 M flares in recent days. NASA observes the Sun and our space environment constantly with a fleet of spacecraft that study everything from the Suns activity to the solar atmosphere, and to the particles and magnetic fields in the space surrounding Earth. One result could be more intense and frequent aurora. On this page you will find an overview of the strongest solar flares of the year 2022 together with links to more information in our archive and a video (if available) of the event. The sun is on 11-year solar cycles. (July 2022): Atmospheric radiation is decreasing in 2022. An active region on the Sun captured in extreme ultraviolet light from NASA's Solar Dynamic [+] Observatory (SDO) spacecraft. Solar minimum refers to the period when the number of sunspots is lowest and solar activity, including flares, is lower; solar maximum occurs in the years when sunspots are most numerous and flares are more common. NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. But it might be a double-edged sword, as the event could cause the orbital decay of operating equipment up there as well. The resulting X-class solar flares can affect Earth's magnetic field with the potential to damage satellites and communications equipment as well as casing power grids to overload. There is one possible silver lining, at least for some scientists: If this solar maximum temporarily disables our electrical and communications systems, it will also generate epic auroral displays. These currents can damage or destroy critical infrastructure, leading to expensive power outages or maintenance and repair costs. This story originally appeared on the Sun and was reproduced . Give your support for our organization by making a donation. ANOHER STRONG SOLAR FLARE: Sunspot AR3234 exploded today, Feb. 28th at 1750 UTC, producing an M8.6-class solar flare, percentage points below X-class. That kind of failure would really hurt the economy, Halford says. Yes! NASAs Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, captured an image of the event. Satellites are particularly susceptible because they dont benefit from the relative protection of our atmosphere. Certainly the brightest #aurora Ive seen in Scotland so far was last night! The flare knocked out the power grids in Quebec and parts of New England, as the utility company Hydro-Quebec was down for nine hours. This rapid energy transfer creates solar flares as well as other kinds of solar eruptions like coronal mass ejections and solar energetic particle events. "Solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation," NASA wrote on Twitter . March 15, 2023 ;K-index 4 (medium solar storm)
However, the earthly activity has been due to the M3.7 flare on February 24 and the M6 flare on February 25 and their associated CMEs riding on top of high-speed solar wind from a coronal hole. So, throughout the 11-year solar cycle, flares may occur several times a day or only a few times per month. Finally, the coronal mass ejection (CME) from February 24 reached us yesterday around 20 UTC and set off geomagnetic storming as expected. The region also gave us an M1.0 flare and produced 13 of the 16 C flares during the past day. This flare is classified as an X1.0 flare. However, the Sun has been much more active this cycle than anticipated. When these events occur, they thicken the density of Earths upper atmosphere. The fast-growing sunspot has doubled in size in only 24 hours., They added, AR3038 has an unstable beta-gamma magnetic field that harbors energy for M-classsolar flares, and it is directly facing Earth.. The spot itself cannot yet be seen but large, hot, gas-filled loops above this region are visible. Light only takes about 8 minutes to travel from the Sun to Earth, so thats how long it would take the energy from a flare to reach our planet. Flares tend to come from active regions on the Sun several times the size of Earth or more. These post-flare loops are still active. and they can affect the technology we rely on. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, captured an image of the event. They are sometimes associated with coronal mass. And to those of you whove already posted a photo to our community page, thank you. We cannot yet predict when a specific solar flare will occur, but we can measure several factors that make a flare more likely to occur. During its recent trip across the suns visible face, this region produced nine M flares plus numerous C flares. A solar flare is an intense burst of radiation, or light, Flares are our solar systems most powerful explosive events the most powerful flares have the energy equivalent of a, billion hydrogen bombs, enough energy to power the whole world for 20,000 years. Your submission has been received! Follow HT Tech for the latest tech news and reviews , also keep up with us These effects can be seen in the form of auroras, radio blackouts, disruptions to satellites, and power grid failures. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. The sun is currently at the start of a new 11-year solar cycle, which usually sees eruptions and flares grow more intense and extreme. So the official forecast is for G2 tonight into tomorrow, but higher levels are possible. Sometimes the same active region on the Sun can give rise to several flares in succession, erupting over the course of days or even weeks. The GDC missions study of the global, coupled system will enable dramatic improvements in our space weather models, which will lead to the mitigation of negative effects on space-based, air-based, and ground-based assets. February 27th, 2023#auroraborialis #NorthernLights #nature #stars pic.twitter.com/cwVxLbJfKT, Dr Alasdair ODell (@alasdairodell) February 27, 2023, Flying home from San Francisco (to NYC) and we got a crazy view out the window!! AR3234 is still in itsbeta-gamma-delta magnetic configuration, a powerful configuration for flaring. The bit flips occur when ionized particles from the solar outbursts switch the function of memory bits. Heres more on the difference between a solar flare and a CME: How big are solar flares? Solar flares erupt from active regions on the Sun places where the Suns magnetic field is especially strong and turbulent. March 28, 2023 ;K-index 2 (low solar storm)
A large eruption of solar material, visible here in the SDO/AIA 304 angstrom filter, is launched from an active region on the left limb of the Sun, associated with an M1-class solar flare. December 2019 marked the beginning of Solar Cycle 25. The Sun emitted a strong solar flare on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, peaking at 9:55 a.m. EDT. Solar flares are bright flashes of light, whereas CMEs are giant clouds of plasma and magnetic field. Peak in 2025. Power companies began building safety measures, such as tripwires, into the electricity grid to stop cascading failure. Todays top news:Sun activity is low. Last 24 hours:Sun activity is low. It wasnt as large as the Carrington Event, but it still confused detection equipment. In fact, flares from other stars are frequently more severe both stronger and more frequent than those produced by the Sun. In the event that happens, get your warm clothes ready as we hope for clear skies! NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare - as seen in the bright flash in the bottom left portion of the image - on May 3, 2022. The NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) carries a full suite of instruments to observe the Sun and has been doing so since 2010. The solar flare, a huge explosion on the sun's surface caused by magnetic activity, affected transmissions in southern China on February 15, state media said. As anticipated, AR3234 left the visible side of the sun among beautiful prominences. Solar flares only affect Earth when they occur on the side of the Sun facing Earth. AR3242 was the biggest producer of the day, with 14 flares. 2022 total: 1 day (<1%) 2021 total: 64 days (18%) 2020 total: 208 days (57%) . March 17, 2023 ;K-index 3 (low solar storm)
The current solar cycle is intensifying with the expected peak of the cycle still one to three years away. X-ray Solar Flares 6-hr max: C2 2330 UT Feb27 24-hr: C4 . March 27, 2023 ;K-index 6 (high solar storm)
Those are the kinds of things that we have really learned our lesson from, Halford says. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, captured imagery of the event. The Sun emitted a strong solar flare, peaking at 3:16 p.m. The Sun emitted a strong solar flare, peaking at 1:50 p.m. EST on Jan. 9, 2023. NOAAs Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) is the nations official source of space weather alerts, watches, and warnings. Stronger solar flares those rated class M5 or above can have impacts on technology that depends on Earths ionosphere, our electrically charged upper atmosphere, like high-frequency radio used for navigation and GPS. Last chance to join our 2020 Costa Rica Star Party! This can impact the orbits of satellites, potentially causing problems, but it can also affect the orbits of space debris floating around up there. But most of the satellites launched in the past two decades have been built robustly enough that they are resistant to overcharging. However, the earthly activity has been due to the M3.7 flare on February 24 - and the M6 flare on February 25 - and their associated CMEs - riding on top of high-speed solar wind from a. Plus, welcome to another taste of what is yet to come: more exciting times on our way to solar maximum in the middle of this decade. Fortunately, were prevented from being harmed biologically by this intense output by Earths magnetosphere. NASAs Space Weather Program will provide a framework to ensure that the GDC data can be quickly ingested into operational systems in partnership with NOAA and other agencies. Why the next big solar storm might hit Earth without warning. A CME erupted on Jan. 30, 2022 and is set to arrive at Earth on Feb. 2, 2022. March 10, 2023 ;K-index 2 (low solar storm)
NASA observes the Sun and our space environment constantly with a fleet of spacecraft that study everything from the Suns activity to the solar atmosphere, and to the particles and magnetic fields in the space surrounding Earth. (Photo by NASA via Getty Images). After more sunspots appeared on its surface last week our star issued three solar flares of the strongest type possible so-called X-flares. The main producer of flares in recent days sunspot region AR3234 is about to be rotated off the Earth-facing side of the sun. It uses three very crucial instruments to collect data from various solar activities. Solar events will continue to increase as we near solar maximum in 2025, and our lives and technology on Earth, as well as satellites and astronauts in space, will be impacted. A Carrington Event is one of those kinds of things that you kind of want to have happen, Halford says, because we think we can weather it.. How long do solar flares last? The Sun emitted a strong solar flare on May 3, 2022, peaking at 9:25 a.m. EDT. While the effects of solar flares on Earth can be sudden, its what can often happen next that are more noticeable. Flares also shoot out particles (electrons, protons, and heavier particles) that spacecraft can detect. ET on Feb. 17, 2023. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration &, How does rain and barometric pressure may affect health . One risk of a radio blackout is that radios are often used for emergency communications, for instance, to direct people amid an earthquake or hurricane. Experts now believe the associated coronal mass ejection (CME) to that flare might give Earth a glancing blow on March 4, hopefully producing more auroral displays. Even if it does happen on the near side, the direction of the burst often misses us as were quite far away and a relatively small target compared to the Sun. . First through Facebook and Twitter then adding an extensive website thesuntoday.org, the two work together to engage the public about the Sun and its role in our solar system. Last 24 hours:Sun activity is low, with 17C flares. The explosive heat of a solar flare cant make it all the way to our globe, but electromagnetic radiation and energetic particles certainly can, reported NASA. This flare is classified as an X-class flare. Flares emit visible light but they also emit at almost every wavelength of the electromagnetic spectrum. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Piece of sun breaks off, stuns scientists: Very curious, Wild Sept. 24 doomsday conspiracy goes viral on TikTok, Solar eruptions, flares could impact Earth, NASA says, Giant sunspot threatens Earth as solar flare may cause blackouts. There was an X flare late yesterday from AR3234. For the third time in less than a month, the American continents have become a victim of the extremely volatile ongoing solar storm activity. But it has already produced a beautiful prominence (see the animated image below). Early this year, SpaceX reported losing a number of its Starlink satellites to an extended geomagnetic storm of moderate strength. The M1.0 flare from AR3243 at 07:10 UTC on March 4, 2023. provoked an R1 (minor) radio blackout over an area in the southern Indian Ocean. Oops! Picture date: [+] Sunday November 27, 2022. Eventually, these magnetic fields build up tension and explosively realign, like the sudden release of a twisted rubber band, in a process known as magnetic reconnection. Solar flares in 2022 . Spice up your small talk with the latest tech news, products and reviews. What a show! Bottom line: Sun activity March 4, 2023. A massive solar flare erupted from the sun on Friday (Feb. 17) as the Earth was under a geomagnetic storm watch from flares earlier in the week. March 19, 2023 ;K-index 5 (high solar storm)
The number of flares also increases as the Sun nears solar maximum, and decreases as the Sun nears solar minimum. (Image credit: SDO/NASA) It's no coincidence that the headlines have been full of solar. 2023 CNET, a Red Ventures company. Naturally, we love receiving your photos! All rights reserved. Todays top news:Sun activity is high. How do we study solar flares? The M8.6 flare produced an R2 (moderate) blackout over the west coast of South America and the M1 produced an R1 (minor) blackout over the east coast of Australia. The region produced seven C flares, the most during the past day. X-class denotes the most intense flares, while the number provides more information about its strength. Our latest measurements in July 2022 registered a 6-year low: Fans mock Justin Timberlake for awkward 'hokey pokey' danc Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave, What's next for Buster Murdaugh after dad's murder conviction, life sentence, Alex Murdaugh shaves head for latest mugshot after learning his fate for killing his wife, son, Heather Dubrows youngest child comes out as transgender, Tom Sandoval drops out of interview amid backlash from Raquel Leviss scandal, Rebel Wilson says Meghan Markle isnt as naturally warm as Prince Harry, March 4, 1984: Martina Navratilova defeats Chris Evert at MSG, Tom Sandoval breaks silence on Ariana Madix split amid cheating claims. But not every solar flare or coronal mass ejection will have an impact on Earth; it depends on both the size of the burst and the direction its heading. The image shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares and is colorized in red and gold. It was detected by the NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). This image was captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory and shows a blend of light from the 171 and 131 angstrom wavelengths. From sunspots and solar flares can come coronal mass ejections (CMEs), large expulsions of plasma and magnetic field from the Suns corona that can take 15-18 hours to reach Earth (although they can be aimed anywhere in the solar system). The October flare caused some minor problems, but the Federal Aviation Administration didnt report any major navigation issues, Halford says. NASA also works with other agencies to study and coordinate space weather activities. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, captured an image of the event. Top 50 solar flares of the year 2022 On this page you will find an overview of the strongest solar flares of the year 2022 together with links to more information in our archive and a video (if available) of the event. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the . The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Space Weather Prediction Center is currently keeping tabs on the sunspot for a potential solar flare event, but has yet to issue any warnings. NASAs Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, captured an image of the event. When the ionosphere-thermosphere system is pummeled by solar and geomagnetic activity, these assets are adversely affected.