The sun has recently experienced a resurgence with a powerful X-class solar flare, the strongest type of flare, originating from sunspot region AR3869.

This flare peaked at 11:57 p.m. EDT on October 23, causing shortwave radio blackouts in Australia and Southeast Asia.

It was accompanied by a coronal mass ejection (CME), which could lead to geomagnetic storms and stunning auroras if it strikes Earth.

However, due to the sunspot’s position during the eruption, a significant impact is unlikely, Space.com has reported.

As AR3869 rotates toward the Earth strike zone in the coming days, space weather forecasters and aurora enthusiasts will monitor its activity closely, anticipating potential further eruptions from other large sunspots also coming into view.

Written by B.C. Begley