Powerful X-Class Solar Flare Erupts From Sun, Strongest Released Since 2017

X-class flares are the strongest type of flare. A solar flare is basically an explosion on the surface of the sun ranging from minutes to hours in length.

SPACE - A powerful X-class solar flare erupted from the sun on December 14th, 2023, the largest solar flare to date since September 10th, 2017.

The Space Weather Prediction Center reports that the effects may be: "Temporary degradation or complete loss of high frequency (HF) radio signals on parts of the sunlight portion of the earth".

What Are X-Class Flares? More Information On The Current Flare:

What are X-class flares, and how does the classification system work? Read to the end of this article for an even more in-depth explanation of what they are and how they affect the Earth.

X-class flares are the strongest type of flare. The system includes B-class flares (the weakest), C-class flares (second weakest), M-class flares, and X-class (strongest) types of solar flares.

Each class also has a point system associated with it, from 1 to 9, with 1 being the weakest and 9 being the strongest type of flare, except for X-class flares which can go even higher than 9. One example is the solar flare that occurred in 2003, during the last solar maximum.

That solar flare was so powerful that it overloaded the sensors measuring it. They cut out at X17, and the flare was later estimated to be about X45, according to NASA. 

A powerful X-class flare like that can create long-lasting radiation storms, which can harm satellites, and even give airline passengers flying near the poles small radiation doses. X flares also have the potential to create global transmission problems and worldwide blackouts.

Information, Charts, and Photos On The Latest X-Class Solar Flare: