Sun Ejects a Giant Solar Filament on August 12

Kokcha News Agency: Scientists at the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences have reported that the Sun ejected a giant solar filament on the morning of August 12.

Solar filaments are large, dark, thread-like structures of plasma suspended above the Sun’s surface by magnetic forces. When these filaments erupt, they can lead to significant solar activity, including coronal mass ejections (CMEs).

It is noted that, in general, the likelihood of solar filaments reaching Earth is lower compared to solar flares, which never occur near the Sun’s poles. However, filaments “though rarely, do precisely” hit Earth. When they do, they can trigger the most severe geomagnetic storms at the highest levels.

Such geomagnetic storms can disrupt satellite communications, power grids, and even cause auroras at lower latitudes than usual.