Just Shy of an M5 Solar Flare

 

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22:30 UT – January 27, 2014 – At 22:10 UT a solar flare erupted from the new region coming into view – peaking at an M4.9 rating.

Xray_1m-6

NOAA issued an R1 (out of 5) radio blackout meaning possible HF communication problems for brief intervals. The blackout is primary over the part of Earth illuminated by the flare, the green region shown in the image.

Global

This image shows the flare in SDO/AIA 131 angstrom just after the time of the peak X-ray emission.

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credit: NASA/NOAA/helioviewer