On May 13, 2025, astronomers observed a significant solar filament eruption, resembling a 'bird wing,' sending a surge of plasma across the sun's northern hemisphere. The filament stretched over 600,000 miles, more than twice the Earth-Moon distance. Fortunately, initial data indicated that the main eruption was directed northward, away from Earth.
Solar filaments are cooler, denser regions of plasma suspended above the Sun's surface by magnetic fields. When these filaments erupt, they can trigger coronal mass ejections (CMEs), vast plumes of plasma and magnetic field hurled into space. While the May 13th eruption wasn't Earth-directed, the Sun has been active, with sunspot region AR4087 unleashing a powerful X2.7-class solar flare on May 14, 2025. This flare caused radio blackouts across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Solar flares and CMEs are common during solar maximum, the most active phase of the Sun's 11-year cycle. Although the worst of the eruption missed Earth, scientists continue to monitor the Sun's activity as AR4087 rotates, increasing the potential for Earth-directed eruptions.