The sun has unleashed a series of powerful solar flares adn coronal mass ejections (CMEs) in recent days, with one particularly significant event dubbed “The Beast” by observers. These eruptions have the potential to trigger geomagnetic storms and stunning auroras on Earth.
The sun is currently approaching the peak of its approximately 11-year activity cycle,known as solar maximum. During this phase, increased magnetic activity on the sun’s surface leads to a higher frequency of solar flares and CMEs. These events involve the release of large amounts of plasma and magnetic field from the sun’s corona into space.
The recent flurry of activity is a reminder that the sun is currently nearing the end of the most active phase in its roughly 11-year sunspot cycle, known as solar maximum. During this period, magnetic instabilities make it much easier for chunks of plasma to break away from the solar surface.
(Image credit: NOAA/GOES)
