Direct Hit: Major X-Class Flare and Earth-Directed CME

Two sunspot regions just produced solar flares at nearly the same time. The flare activity began from Region 3614 and was still in progress when another flare erupted from Region 3615. The X1.1 X-Ray event peaked at 01:33 UTC (Mar 23). The event around AR 3614 appears to be the brighter of the two. A halo coronal mass ejection (CME) is now visible in updated imagery from STEREO-A coronagraphs. Updated imagery from SOHO/LASCO is still required, however it seems certain that an Earth-directed component will be likely from this event. The expanding plasma cloud is expected to pass Earth in 2 to 3 days. The X-flare produced widespread radio blackouts due to the intense pulse of X-rays and high ultraviolet radiation. The radiation arrived on Earth in just over eight minutes and ionised the upper layer of the atmosphere causing deep shortwave radio blackouts over Australia,New Zealand, SE Asia, East Russia, Hawaii and Micronesia. This is a solar and space weather report and NOT the end of the world!!!! We have nothing to fear if we’re well informed! Thanks for watching! #Xflare #CME #Solarstorm Images credit: NOAA/SWPC, STEREO-A, AIA/SDO, nemesis maturity channel, Music credit: YouTube Audio Library