Sun Erupted with Third Significant Solar Flare in the Past Few Days

NASA has announced that the sun erupted with another significant solar flare on Oct. 22, 2014. The latest solar flare, which was captured in images by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) occurred in the lower half of the sun and represents the third substantial flare from the same region of the sun since Oct. 19.

The flare itself was classified as an X1.6 class flare. X-class flares are actually the most extreme flares to be found. Like hurricanes, solar flares are classified based on their intensity. The weakest are known as A-class flares, followed by B, then C and then M. The strongest are X-class flares which need to be watched particularly since they pose a risk to astronauts and satellites in orbit when they're aimed directly at Earth.

This is actually the third substantial flare to erupt from the sun in the past several days. The second one occurred on Oct. 21, and was classified as a mid-level flare-an M8.7-class flare. M-class flares are flares that are a tenth as strong as X-class flares. In addition, the number associated with the class provides information as to the solar flare's strength. For example, an M2 is twice as intense as a M1 and an M3 is three times as intense.

These were the only flares. The first one, on Oct. 19, was classified as a X1.1-class solar flare.

Currently, the scientists are continuing to monitor the sun in order to see whether these solar flares will result in space weather, such as a coronal mass ejection, that could affect radio communications on Earth.

Want to learn more? You can find out how solar flares could impact our planet by visiting NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center.