What is the strongest class of solar flare?

X-class
Solar flares are ranked first by category — A-class are weakest, then B-, C-, and M-class, with X-class the strongest — and then by size, with smaller numbers representing smaller flares within the class. Wednesday’s flare was an X1. 3-class flare, according to SpaceWeather.

What are the classes of solar flare?

Solar flares are classified according to their strength. The smallest ones are A-class, followed by B, C, M and X, the largest. Solar flares are giant explosions on the sun that send energy, light and high speed particles into space.

What is a C-class solar flare?

M-class flares are medium-sized; they generally cause brief radio blackouts that affect Earth’s polar regions. Minor radiation storms sometimes follow an M-class flare. Compared to X- and M-class events, C-class flares are small with few noticeable consequences here on Earth. A solar eruption.

What is the most powerful CME?

The largest recorded geomagnetic perturbation, resulting presumably from a CME, was the solar storm of 1859. Also known as the Carrington Event, it disabled parts of the at the time newly created United States telegraph network, starting fires and shocking some telegraph operators.

What is M-class solar flare?

M-class flares are medium-sized; they can cause brief radio blackouts that affect Earth’s polar regions. Minor radiation storms sometimes follow an M-class flare. Compared to X- and M-class events, C-class flares are small with few noticeable consequences here on Earth.

What is the biggest solar flare ever recorded?

According to NASA’s SOHO project, biggest ever solar flare was recorded on April 2, 2001, with massive speed of 7.2 million kilometers per hour.

What is a X1 solar flare?

An X1. 1 solar flare (R3-strong) was observed this morning and it came from sunspot region 2994. This is the third strongest solar flare of the current Solar Cycle 24 thus far. A partial halo coronal mass ejection was released into space but it is not expected to arrive at Earth.

What would happen if a CME hit Earth?

If a CME collides with the Earth, it causes a geomagnetic storm, and the US-based Space Weather Prediction Center under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released a warning about a possible G2 (Moderate) geomagnetic storm.