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Largest ever recorded solar flare in history – The "X-Whatever" mega flare

largest-ever-recorded-solar-flare-in-history-the-x-whatever-mega-flare

On this day, exactly 10 years ago, the largest ever recorded solar flare in history erupted from Sun's western limb. This mega flare started its historic eruption at 19:29 UTC from Active Region 10486 and peaked around 19:50 UTC.

Ionizing radiation from the flare hit Earth's atmosphere soon after the explosion and caused a severe radio blackout. The explosion also hurled a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) into space but it was only partially directed toward Earth and expected to deliver only a glancing blow to Earth's magnetic field.

The flare saturated the X-ray detectors on the NOAA's GOES satellites for 11 minutes and the jury was out for a while on the definitive classification of the flare.

Speculations on the strength ranged from simply well above X20, to X40 or even X50!

On November 5th, SEC (which is now SWPC) said that their best estimate was X28.

Although the exact number is still debated it was made official that it was the strongest solar flare ever recorded in history and general consensus at the time was to classify it as X28+.

This flare was later upgraded to anywhere above X40, thus the well deserved name it still carries is the "X-Whatever" solar flare.

CME from this mega flare swept past Earth on November 6th at approximately 19:30 UTC and it sparked only minor to moderate geomagnetic storming. Observed KP index at that time was 5.67. 

Because smaller flares in the past have caused power outages and widespread auroras there is no doubt that this CME would cause the same or stronger effect if it was squarely directed toward Earth. Being what it is, the effects on Earth were relatively minimal. 

Saturation of the GOES detectors also happened once earlier in SOHO's history, on April 4, 2001. That flare was reclassified as an X20 and it still stands as the second most powerful solar flare on record, sharing its position with X20 from August 16, 1989.

X-ray graph on November 4, 2003. This image also contains three previous X-class solar flares. Image credit: NOAA/SEC

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The largest solar flare in recorded history erupted in Solar Cycle 23, which was evidently much stronger than Solar Cycle 24, the one we are currently in. 

Current solar cycle has so far produced 23 X-class solar flares, with the strongest being X6.9 on August 9, 2011. The X2.3 solar flare from October 29, 2013 is the fifth strongest solar flare of this cycle so far. It was also located on the western limb.

Read more: 

Featured image: NASA SOHO EIT 195/LASCO C2/LASCO C3 on November 4, 2003.

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One Comment

  1. It appears that UNPRECEDENTED Comet C/2017 K2 is temporarily interrupting the sun’s former state of quiescence (Grand Solar Minimum) which began in 2012 (Mayan Calendar). The anomalously aggressive progression of Solar Cycle 25 is most likely the result of K2’s immense and intense (UNPRECEDENTED) electromagnetic field. There is speculation K2 pierced the heliosphere around 1960 which corresponded with dramatic changes taking place on all of the planets. https://abruptearthchanges.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/dmitriev2.pdf

    SC 25 began anomalously with solar flares in the absence of sunspots which indicated an unusual external source of agitation. Sunspots began to appear thereafter which has led to the erroneous conclusion of a normal progression of SC 25. With multiple daily CMEs now occurring, it is obvious that K2’s hyperbolic approach is agitating the sun towards UNPRECEDENTED activity. In July of this year (2022) earth will be between the sun and K2 placing it in the bullseye for multiple extreme Coronal Mass Ejections. The Covid pandemic followed closely upon the heels of K2’s discovery and appears to be a preemptive move (Kill-Shot) to cull the population and bring those who survive the pandemic under greater control in anticipation of the Solar Kill-Shot and the chaos that is approaching. Those most familiar with coming events have stated that preparing spiritually is the only recourse left for humanity. https://www.oom2.com/t68490-solar-killshot-and-the-worldwide-cover-up
    The ‘Wheel of Necessity’ (Zodiac) is about to spin off of its axle. http://comet-k2.com/

  2. The south western limb and western limb are the most apparent active areas of the sun At present the solar activity is on the increase Thursday 28 is the date to watch particularly with the solar regions area 10486 with its record grid destroying capability ( X 40- as a direct hit would be globally devastating to life) and the new active region 1890 which has recently produced several strong X class impulsive flares.

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