14 DAY TRIAL // On Thursday, November 7, the Sun released yet another powerful solar flare, the sixth such event recorded by astronomers since October 23. The new mass ejection reached its peak intensity at 11:26 pm EST (0426 GMT), and was cataloged as a X1.1-class event.
X-class solar emissions are the most powerful our star is capable of producing. Experts are not surprised by this level of activity, since the Sun is getting ready to reach the maximum in its 11-year cycle, where periods of numerous, intense explosions alternate with peaceful spells.
The latest coronal mass ejection was recorded by the NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), which observes the Sun at multiple wavelengths simultaneously. The largest flare it detected in this solar cycle was an X6.9 event on August 9, 2011, which was nearly 7 times more intense than the one that occurred yesterday.
NASA will continue to monitor the Sun as its activity increases, monitoring a number of active solar regions, as these are the most likely locations for solar flare to pop up from.