Space scientists capture Sun firing four massive solar flares

By Dean Murray

Space scientists have announced that the Sun has fired four massive solar flares.

The outbursts were captured by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft, which monitors our star’s activity for potential threats to Earth.

They included a powerful X8.1 class flare, of which NASA said: "Flares of this magnitude in and around solar maximum are generally not common."

The space agency warned on Monday, Feb. 2: "Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy. Flares and solar eruptions can impact radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts."

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Such flares can produce Earth-directed coronal mass ejections (CME), a massive burst of plasma and magnetic fields from the Sun’s corona, the outermost part of its atmosphere.

As well as unwanted disruption, they can also produce spectacular displays of aurora.

NASA said: "The Sun emitted three strong solar flares on Feb. 1, peaking at 7:33 a.m. ET, 6:37 p.m. ET, and 7:36 p.m. ET. The Sun emitted a fourth strong solar flare on Feb. 2, peaking at 3:14 a.m. ET.

"The first flare is classified as an X1.0 flare. The second is classified as an X8.1, and the third is classified as an X2.8. The fourth flare is classified as an X1.6. X-class denotes the most intense flares, while the number provides more information about its strength."