Triple Solar Flares Hit Earth on December 29, 2024.

NOAA's Solar Ultraviolet Imager captured the solar flares on Dec. 29, 2024, as bright blue flashes on the Sun's right side, highlighting hot flare material in extreme UV light. Credit:NOAA

On December 29, 2024, the Sun unleashed three significant solar flares, peaking at different times throughout the day. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the flares occurred at 2:18 a.m. ET, 11:14 p.m. ET, and 11:31 p.m. ET, with images captured by NOAA's Solar Ultraviolet Imager.

These solar flares were classified as X-class, the highest category for solar flare intensity. Specifically, the first and third flares were measured at X1.1, while the second reached X1.5. Solar flares of this magnitude release enormous amounts of energy and can affect Earth in several ways:

Disruption of radio communications: Shortwave radio blackouts can occur, impacting aviation and maritime communications.

Power grid disturbances: Strong flares can induce currents in power lines, potentially leading to voltage control problems.

Satellite and astronaut safety: Increased radiation can pose risks to satellites and astronauts in space.

For those interested in the potential impacts on Earth, NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center at spaceweather.gov provides comprehensive forecasts, watches, warnings, and alerts. NASA also contributes to space weather research with its array of spacecraft monitoring solar activity and the space environment around Earth.

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