HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The sun emitted two strong solar flares over the last 24 hours, according to a NASA blog post.
According to the post, the first flared peaked at 6:07 p.m. EST on Wednesday, and the second peaked at 1:32 a.m. EST on Thursday morning.
“The first flare is classified as an X1.8 flare,” the post stated. “The second flare is classified as an X1.7 flare. X-class denotes the most intense flares, while the number provides more information about its strength.”
The smallest class of flare is B followed by C and X being the strongest. One of the most powerful solar flares on record in 2003 was so powerful it overloaded the sensors measuring it, capping at X17.
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captures images of the event.
According to the post, flares and solar eruptions are capable of impacting radio communications, power grids and could pose a risk to spacecrafts.
