X2.8, the strongest solar flare since September 2017: will interfere with radio communications

CTOnews.com, December 16 (Xinhua)-- the Sun has released a strong Class X solar flare, peaking at 12:02 EDT (01:02 Beijing time) on December 15, 2023, according to an announcement issued by NASA.

The flare activity was fully recorded by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft, with an intensity of X2.8, the strongest solar flare since September 2017. Solar physicists divide strong flares into three categories, type C is the weakest, class M is medium, and class X is the strongest.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released an update on its website, saying that "this may be one of the largest solar radio events in history" and will cause serious radio communication interference.

NOAA is currently evaluating the coronal mass ejection (CME) associated with this solar flare activity, and the results will be updated later.

Although the CME generated by this solar flare is not directed at Earth, it still has an impact on Earth, and the related impact may occur on December 17, CTOnews.com reported, citing SpaceWeather.com.