The first two flashes were recorded by scientists already on Sunday, when the Sun first emitted an X1.0 flash, followed by a massive eruption with a X8.1 flash – the 19th strongest flash in history, the website reports Science Alert. Two more, classes X2.8 and X1.6, followed on Monday.
The flares, the powerful bursts of energy the Sun sent out this week, are X-class — the most powerful class a star can produce. These events originated in the sunspot group RGN 4366, causing concern among scientists.
“If this group of spots continues to evolve, remain complex and trigger additional solar flares, energetic particles and even coronal mass ejections (CMEs) may become more likely,” the website explained Space Weather Prediction Center.
This can cause the aurora borealis, but at the same time it can disrupt satellites, power grids, communication technologies and pose a risk to astronauts and spacecraft, he warns NASA.
The Sun recently went through the most active phase of its eleven-year cycle, bringing many impressive light phenomena in 2024. Although its activity is expected to wane until the beginning of a new cycle in 2030, scientists warn that we may still witness stormy space weather.
date:2026-02-08 10:10:00