On December 31, 2023, NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) captured the strongest solar flare since 2017, classified as an X5.0 flare. This event marks a significant increase in solar activity, which is normal but spectacular. The sun is currently in its active phase of an 11-year cycle, with solar activity peaking around July 2025.
Solar Flares and Their Impact
Solar flares are sudden explosions of energy on the Sun’s surface, associated with sunspots. They are closely related to magnetic activity on the Sun, and when the magnetic energy that has built up in the solar atmosphere is suddenly released, it can produce a solar flare. These flares can impact radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts.