New Delhi: An X1.1 solar flare erupted from a cluster of sunspots designated as Active Region (AR) 4298, peaking at 05:01 hours UTC on 08 December. This was a short, impulsive eruption that caused a brief radio blackout on the sunlit side of the Earth. Another cluster of sunspots, AR 4298 was responsible for the M8.1 Solar Flare that erupted on 06 December, with the associated coronal mass ejection expected to wash over the Earth on 09 December, inducing a strong geomagnetic storm. M-class flares are the second highest category of solar flares, while X-class flares are the strongest category. The impact of the 08 December eruption is being analysed.

The Center of Excellence in Space Sciences India (CESSI) hosted by the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Kolkata

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