On the night of October 2, the second most powerful flare in the current solar activity cycle was recorded on the Sun.
According to preliminary data, a solar plasma ejection will hit the Earth on the night of October 5.
The Solar Astronomy Laboratory of the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences reported this.
What is known about the powerful solar flare
As scientists reported, the X7.1 level flare was recorded at 01:20 Moscow time on October 2.
It occurred almost in the center of the Sun in the area of maximum impact on our planet.
Since the beginning of the current solar cycle, that is, over the past seven years, a more powerful flare has been recorded only once, in May of this year.
Then, against the backdrop of record-breaking magnetic storms of the highest magnitude, a flare of level X8.7 occurred.
The current explosion came as a surprise to scientists: the Sun has been quiet for the past two weeks, and there has not been a single major flare since September 14.
According to preliminary data, there was an ejection of solar plasma towards the Earth, it could hit our planet on the night of October 5.
However, too little time has passed since the outbreak to make an accurate forecast, the laboratory said.
It was also reported that the active center where the flare occurred will remain in the area of influence on the Earth for approximately five more days.
