The Sun recently produced a strong solar flare that sent a cloud of charged particles, known as a coronal mass ejection (CME), toward Earth. The flare, known as M6.98, erupted from an active sunspot region called 4513 and reached its peak around 6 am EDT (10 am GMT) on August 25, according to SpaceWeatherLive.
The event prompted the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) to issue a G2, or moderate, geomagnetic storm watch for August 28.
The solar flare caused a minor radio blackout on the sunlit side of Earth. This temporarily disrupted some high-frequency radio signals over areas including parts of Africa, Europe, and the Arctic. Scientists are now waiting to see how the CME will impact Earth, potentially triggering a geomagnetic storm and producing dazzling auroras for thousands of skywatchers.
Solar flares occur when energy stored in the Sun's magnetic field is suddenly released, creating a burst of radiation. Large solar eruptions can also send clouds of charged particles into space. When these particles travel toward Earth, they can interact with our planet's magnetic field and, in some cases, affect radio signals, satellites, power systems, and other technology.
So, should we be worried? Well, that all depends on the size of the storm! Click on to discover the potential impact of solar storms on Earth.