China’s Fengyun-4C satellite captures powerful solar flare

The sun fired off a powerful flare at 09:07 Beijing Time on Friday, which was captured in great clarity by China’s Fengyun-4C geostationary meteorological satellite, according to the China Meteorological Administration. The flare was observed from the active region 14419 near the sun’s northwest limb and peaked at X2.4.

Flares are classified from C, the weakest, to M, of moderate strength, and X, the strongest. The blast caused temporary disruptions to shortwave radio communications and satellite navigation signals. It was accompanied by a coronal mass ejection, but scientists said that its trajectory is offset from Earth and is unlikely to trigger major geomagnetic disturbances.