On May 13, 2025, the Sun erupted with a significant solar flare from its northern hemisphere, sending tons of solar material into space. The solar filament, observed by Vincent Ledvina, stretched over a million kilometers.
Solar Flare Details and Effects
The Sun unleashed two powerful solar flares from opposite hemispheres. The first, an X1.2-class flare, caused a brief shortwave radio blackout over the Americas. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured images of the event, which peaked at 11:38 a.m. ET. X-class flares are the most intense, and this was the seventh X-class flare of the year.
The second flare, rated M5.3, triggered a longer radio blackout across Southeast Asia. Scientists are analyzing imagery to confirm its trajectory and potential Earth-directed component.
Context and Potential Impact
The X1.2 flare produced a coronal mass ejection (CME), but it is expected to miss Earth, possibly grazing Venus and Mercury. A previous G3-class geomagnetic storm watch was issued on April 16, 2025, due to CMEs from the Sun. Solar flares and CMEs can impact radio communications, power grids, and navigation signals, posing risks to spacecraft and astronauts.