US EditionSunspot launches 27 solar flares in 24 hours, including strongest outburst in years
- On February 1, 2026, Active Region 4366 produced a major X8.1 solar flare at 23:57 UTC, following intense, daylong flaring from the same sunspot region.
- Forecasters say the cause was the rapid magnetic growth of Region 4366, which developed a beta-gamma-delta magnetic configuration and expanded to more than 500 microhemispheres, driving multiple flares.
- Satellite imagery and instruments showed GOES-18 recorded continuous elevated X-ray emission and SUVI 195 imagery revealed post-flare dimming while two earlier CMEs were not Earth-directed.
- NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center raised flare probabilities for Region 4366 and expects the > 2 MeV electron flux to remain moderate to high through February 4.
- Analysts warn this flare surge ranks among the brightest since October 2024, signaling an unusually tempestuous spell even as Solar Cycle 25 is believed past its peak.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Sun Solar Flares Spark Rare Chain Reaction as Scientists Monitor Next 48 Hours
A surge of powerful sun solar flares has put space weather scientists on alert, after the most intense solar eruption of 2026 erupted from the sun and set off a rapid sequence of follow-up blasts. Experts say the next 48 hours are critical as they assess whether the chain of events could translate into visible northern lights or disruptive geomagnetic effects on Earth. Strongest Solar Flare of 2026 Recorded The latest activity peaked with an X8.…
The Geomagnetic Storm That Sparked Panic Across a Continent
Our star has sent out a series of intense flares over the past day, including the strongest of the year so far. This bombardment arrived thanks to a quickly expanding sunspot that spaceweather.com called “a solar flare factory.” One of the flares, which fell into the most powerful “X” category, sparked radio blackouts in parts of the South Pacific. Nautilus Members enjoy an ad-free experience. Log in or Join now . In case you haven’t noticed, t…
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