X4.5 solar flare

Monday, 6 May 2024 18:32 UTC

A common train of thought it that major X-class solar flares equal major coronal mass ejections... but unfortunately that is not always the case. Today's X4.5 solar flare from sunspot region 3663 might have been the third strongest solar flare of the current Solar Cycle, it was yet another solar flare from this sunspot region that was not or hardly eruptive. A solar flare of this magnitude is impressive but again this region fails to deliver when it matters.  This little coronal mass ejection with a northward (not earth-directed) trajectory is all that released following the X4 event.

Major X-class solar flares equal major coronal mass ejections? Unfortunately that is not always the case. Today's X4.5 solar flare from sunspot region 3663 might have been the third strongest solar flare of the current Solar Cycle, it was yet another solar flare that was not or… pic.twitter.com/NtlGgQmaGx

— SpaceWeatherLive (@_SpaceWeather_) May 6, 2024

Sunspot region 3663 is now rotating towards the west limb making any future eruptions more and more unlikely to arrive at Earth. Sunspot region 3664 in the southern hemisphere is however developing nicely and has the potential to produce M-class activity in the next 24 hours. This region is facing Earth right now and might well be worth keeping an eye on...