MOST ACTIVE #SUNSPOT IN YEARS: Fast-growing sunspot AR3663 has quickly become the most active sunspot of Solar Cycle 25. Today alone it has unleashed two #X-flares and six #M-class #flares. This interest-compressed movie from the #Solar Dynamics Observatory shows 12 hours of crackling action:

Each of these flares has created a brief but deep radio blackout on Earth, causing loss of signal at frequencies below 30 MHz. These are events easily noticed by ham radio operators, aviators and mariners using shortwave to communicate.

The flares are expected to continue. AR3663 has a 'beta-gamma-delta' magnetic field where mixed polarities are bumping together in explosive proximity. NOAA forecasters estimate a 75% chance of additional M-class flares and a 25% chance of more X-flares on May 5th.
https://spaceweather.com/

Major Network Outages | #Solar #Flare Impact?

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=Y6NyZKb51Gk

THREE #X-FLARES, ZERO CMES: Giant sunspot AR3590 is living up to the hype. In only 23 hours spanning Feb. 21-22, the active region unleashed three powerful X-class solar flares (X1.8, X1.7 and X6.3). The X6.3 flare is the strongest of Solar Cycle 25, so far, and the most powerful flare since the great solar storms of Sept. 2017.

The ultraviolet afterglow of yesterday's X6.3-class solar flare. Credit: NASA/SDO

Extreme ultraviolet radiation from each flare ionized the top of Earth's atmosphere, causing shortwave radio blackouts over Hawaii (late on Feb 21st), Australia (early on Feb. 22nd), and Hawaii again (late on Feb. 22nd). Mariners and ham radio operators in those areas may have noticed loss of signal at all frequencies below 30 MHz.

You might think all these flares would have hurled at least one CME toward Earth. In fact, the number is zero. SOHO coronagraphs have not detected any CMEs emerging from the blast zone. Sometimes this happens. Flares can occur without CMEs, and CMEs can occur without flares.

Disappointed aurora watchers shouldn't give up hope, though; AR3590 isn't finished.