X2.9 solar flare, Welcome back 3664?
Monday, 27 May 2024 17:22 UTC
A major X2.9 solar flare (R3-strong) took place today peaking at 07:08 UTC. The flare came from a sunspot region just behind the south-east limb. This is likely the anticipated return of old sunspot region 3664 which was the source of many major X-class solar flares during its previous visit of the earth-facing solar disk and an extreme G5 geomagnetic storm which was the first of its kind in 21 years.
The solar flare was highly eruptive but the resulting coronal mass ejection is not aimed towards our planet. What a return! We should be able to see in about 24 to 48 hours from now what is left of this sunspot region. It will take an additional 5 days or so for the region to be at the center of the earth-facing solar disk. Who is excited and hopeful that the region still packs a punch as it rotates into an earth-facing position?
Today's X2.9 solar flare likely came from old sunspot region 3664 which was the source of many major X-class solar flares during its previous visit of the earth-facing solar disk and an extreme G5 geomagnetic storm which was the first of its kind in 21 years. The solar flare was… pic.twitter.com/VTf3ri6XP4
— SpaceWeatherLive (@_SpaceWeather_) May 27, 2024
Another look at the impressive X2.9 solar flare that peaked today at 07:08 UTC. This animation shows how an impressive amount of solar plasma is flung into space. Big thanks to forum user Juress for creating this animation.
— SpaceWeatherLive (@_SpaceWeather_) May 27, 2024
Do you also want to join the discussion on our… pic.twitter.com/1re9rBtIMJ
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| Last X-flare | 2025/12/08 | X1.1 |
| Last M-flare | 2025/12/31 | M7.11 |
| Last geomagnetic storm | 2026/01/02 | Kp5 (G1) |
| Spotless days | |
|---|---|
| Last spotless day | 2022/06/08 |
| Monthly mean Sunspot Number | |
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| December 2025 | 124 +32.2 |
| January 2026 | 122 -2 |
| Last 30 days | 111.1 +8.3 |