NOAA has predicted that there is a 60% chance of an M-class solar flare today due to a giant sunspot heading towards Earth.
A giant sunspot has been discovered on the surface of the Sun, raising fears of a powerful solar flare that could strike Earth. NOAA forecasters have warned that there is a 60% chance of an M-class solar flare and a 15% chance of an X-ray flare. It should be noted that an X-class solar flare signifies one of the most intense glares. Basically, solar flares are classified into four categories – A, B, C, M and X, based on their intensity. Solar flares are intense bursts of radiation that come from the release of magnetic energy, from Sunspots.
The report from SpaceWeather.com suggested that the main source of these intense solar flares was the giant sunspot AR3190. The worrying thing is that this sunspot is facing The earth, increasing the chance of a direct impact on our planet. Not only that, it is one of the largest sunspots of the current Solar Cycle 25, which is at its maximum. “It’s almost five times the diameter of Earth and can be seen through the thick humid atmosphere over the Gulf of Mexico,” David J Kriegler, one of the observers, told Spaceweather.com.
The sunspot’s huge size makes it easy for amateur astronomers to spot it. You don’t need solar power telescope to witness this giant sunspot AR3190. Eclipse glasses work best here. However, you need to be careful! “Even if the sun is obscured by low clouds or fog, looking straight through the camera can damage your eyes. Always use the LCD to find the view,” SpaceWeather.com reports.
The technology behind the Solar Flare . detection
From NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), many agencies monitor these solar flares. Then there’s the DSCOVR satellite, which tracks various measurements of the Sun and its atmosphere including the temperature, speed, density, orientation, and frequency of solar particles. The recovered data is then run through the Space Weather Prediction Center and final analysis is prepared.
