Sun Fires Off Another Large Solar Flare - September 21. 2023.

Flare activity from big sunspot AR3435 is intensifying. Once again it almost crossed the X-threshold with an explosion at 12:55 UTC (Sept 21). A flash of extreme UV radiation from the flare ionized the top of Earth’s atmosphere, causing a shortwave radio blackout over South Africa (RSA), Central and North Africa, South America, Europe, North and South Atlantic. Mariners and ham radio operators may have noticed loss of signal for as much as 30 minutes after 12:55 UT. The active region is now almost directly facing Earth and in a good spot for Earth directed eruptions. Still too early to tell if a noteworthy CME is associated, however the flare itself was fairly short in duration. Thanks for watching! #solarflare #CME #bigsunspot Images credit: GOES-16 SUVI, AIA/SDO, NOAA/SWPC, Music credit: YouTube Audio Library Kurt - Cheel