Looks like things are really heating up. In a rare 2013 display of its immense power, the sun unleashed four massive X-class solar flares upon our solar system over the matter of two days, highlighting the arrival of its solar maximum.
Three X-class solar flares, the strongest kind, were released in under 24 hours. A fourth one was also detected early Wednesday morning. The solar flares mark the first X-class variants of the year, which also marks the solar maximum: the 11-year peak in the solar cycle. The sun is most violent during this time, and the new flares could indicate a steady increase in solar activity.
"Increased numbers of flares are quite common at the moment because the sun's normal 11-year activity cycle is ramping up toward solar maximum, which is expected in 2013," NASA explained in a statement. "Humans have tracked the solar cycle continuously since it was discovered in 1843, and it is normal for there to be many flares a day during the sun's peak activity."
Solar flares are massive eruptions of electrons, ions, and atoms from the sun's surface and are frequently followed by coronal mass ejections (CMEs), or intense solar winds, which can be potentially hazardous to Earth satellites, telecommunications, and power grids.
According to NASA, the first three X-class solar flares were accompanied by CMEs. Luckily, however, it seems that the solar activity emanated from a side of the sun not directed at Earth.
"The CME was not Earth-directed, but could pass NASA's STEREO-B, Messenger and Spitzer spacecraft," NASA said. "If warranted, operators can put spacecraft into safe mode to protect the instruments from solar material."
At the time of this article, it was not yet confirmed whether the fourth X-class flare produced a CME, although the possibility is likely.
X-class solar flares are classified based on their strengths. An X2 solar flare is twice as intense as an X1, and an X3 is three times more. NASA ranks the first three X-class solar flares that occurred within 24 hours of each other as X1.7, X2.8, and X3.2.
There is a 50 percent chance of an X-class solar flare today, May 15, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
You can watch a video of the first X-class solar flares of 2013 below: