The sun continues to remind us of the approach of the next peak of the 11-year cycle of activity. Phenomena on the Sun will acquire maximum intensity and frequency by the end of 2024 or by the beginning of 2025. Outbreaks will not necessarily go on increasing, although the events of February 11 and February 17 just showed an increasing trend. The February 11 flare was X1.1 intensity, and the February 17 event reached X2.2 and was also an extreme level.
Image Source: www.spaceweather.gov
The outbreak occurred at 23:16 Moscow time on Friday evening. If a coronal mass ejection occurred towards the Earth, then it will reach our planet in three to four days. These days, you can certainly see large-scale auroras.
Image Source: NASA/SDO
Charged particles from the source of the flare on February 11 reached the Earth on February 13–15 and caused a moderate G1 level geomagnetic storm and R1–R2 level radio interference. Specialists are still studying the source of the outbreak on February 17, but in the most critical case, they will cause a moderate G2 geomagnetic storm from February 20 to 21 with an R3 “radio blackout” level with a likely blockage of communications and failures in electrical equipment. But the spacecraft, which at that time will be on the side of the Earth illuminated by the Sun, will get the most.
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