There’s a lot bubbling on the sun’s surface right now – the US space agency NASA recently observed one of the most powerful solar flares in recent years. According to the authorities, we will start to feel the consequences of this in the coming days.
A powerful solar flare erupting from a large unstable sunspot was observed on Friday – the strongest in recent memory. This is also likely to affect Earth in the coming days: it could disrupt communications, power grids and navigation signals – they therefore pose a risk to spaceships and astronauts, NASA said.
Here is the message from the solar physicist:
About every eleven years there are phases of weak and strong activity in a so-called solar cycle. Since December 2019, the sun’s activity has been increasing again – the sun is currently approaching its maximum.
Disruptions to air traffic and power supply possible
A solar storm poses no direct threat to humans or animals; life on Earth is protected by the planet’s atmosphere and magnetic field. Nevertheless, electronic devices can malfunction due to the high-energy particles. Air traffic disruptions and power outages are possible.
In space there is no protection at all against the high radiation doses that occur during a strong solar storm after an eruption. A spacewalk under such conditions can even be fatal for astronauts.
Source: Krone
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