Sun produces strongest solar flare of August so far

A powerful solar flare erupted on August 20, initially making it the strongest solar event recorded since the beginning of August, according to the Solar Astronomy Laboratory of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Space Research Institute.

The flare was initially measured at M1.88. Because of the conventions used in flare classification, however, it is likely to be listed in international catalogues as M1.8, with solar activity levels traditionally rounded down to the lower boundary.

It was the second M-class flare recorded within a 24-hour period, Russian media reports, citing the Institute.

The flare originated in active Region 4513, which had emerged onto the side of the Sun visible from Earth only a day earlier. Scientists expected the region’s activity to subside within one to two days.

Later on Thursday, however, scientists reported a substantially stronger M8.1-class flare, which overtook the earlier event and set a new August high.

Thus, the M1.88 flare that had initially been described as the strongest solar event since early August was quickly surpassed by the M8.1 eruption.

By Tamilla Hasanova