Solar Explosion!

On September 6, 2017, the sun unleashed several massive bursts of energy. One of the blasts was the largest solar flare in 12 years. Energy from the explosion bombarded Earth, interfering with radio signals and GPS.

The sun follows an 11-year cycle, during which its activity rises and falls. Currently, our star should be entering a quiet phase, not flaring up. Scientists are keeping a close eye on the unusual space weather caused by changing conditions on the sun. It could have a big effect on our planet.

On September 6, 2017, the sun released several huge bursts of energy. One of the blasts was the largest solar flare in 12 years. Energy from the explosion struck Earth. It interfered with radio signals and GPS.

The sun follows an 11-year cycle. Its activity rises and falls during this period. Right now, our star should be entering a quiet stage. Instead, it’s flaring up. The sun’s changing conditions are causing unusual space weather. Scientists are keeping close watch, because this could have a big effect on Earth.

Before its recent eruptions, the sun showed signs that something big was coming. Cooler areas, called sunspots, formed on its surface.

Sunspots are created by the sun’s extremely strong magnetic field. The spots usually come in pairs. They tend to form at places where the sun’s constantly changing magnetic field creates north and south poles. The field is like a rubber band that twists and stretches out from the sun’s surface until it suddenly snaps. That releases an explosion of energy as a solar flare.

The September eruption disrupted radio communications on Earth for about an hour. Flares can also affect power grids. Some interact with Earth’s magnetic field to create bands of light known as auroras in the skies near the poles.

The recent blasts weren’t a surprise. The sun showed signs that something big was coming. Cooler areas formed on its surface. They’re called sunspots.

The sun’s extremely strong magnetic field forms sunspots. The spots usually come in pairs. The sun’s magnetic field is always changing, and it creates north and south poles. That’s where sunspots tend to form. The field is like a rubber band. It twists and stretches out from the sun’s surface, until it suddenly snaps. That releases a burst of energy as a solar flare.

The September flare interfered with radio signals on Earth for about an hour. Flares can also affect power grids. Some act with Earth’s magnetic field to create bands of light. These auroras appear in the skies near the poles. 

Solar-flare events are helping scientists learn about the sun and how it affects Earth. “Improved understanding will lead to better forecasts of space weather and the potential implications to our high-tech era,” says Shawn Dahl, a forecaster at the Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colorado. That includes threats from dangerous solar radiation to future astronauts traveling to Mars and disruptions to navigation systems that self-driving cars rely on.

Solar flares are helping scientists learn about the sun and how it affects Earth. Shawn Dahl is a forecaster at the Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colorado. He says, “Improved understanding will lead to better forecasts of space weather and the potential implications to our high-tech era.” For example, space weather will affect future astronauts going to Mars. The sun’s radiation could put them in danger. Space weather could also affect the navigation systems of self-driving cars.