Sunspot launches 27 solar flares in 24 hours, including strongest outburst in years

Live Science ^ | 02/02/2026 | Brandon Specktor

[BenLurkin]

A monster sunspot is taking aim at Earth after firing off dozens of powerful flares Sunday and Monday (Feb. 1-2) — including the most intense solar eruption in years.

Elevated geomagnetic activity — possibly resulting in vibrant northern lights at lower latitudes than usual — is possible Thursday (Feb. 5), according to an alert from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC). However, it's still too soon to know for certain.

The sunspot, called region 4366, appeared suddenly several days ago and has rapidly grown to roughly half the size of the infamous Carrington Event sunspot, which, in September 1859, fired a flare that triggered the most destructive geomagnetic storm in recorded history. This swift growth has left sunspot 4366 highly unstable; in a 24-hour period between Sunday and Monday, the region erupted with more than 20 solar flares, including at least 23 M-class flares and four X-class flares, the strongest category of solar flare, according to NASA.

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TOPICS: Astronomy; Science
KEYWORDS: astronomy; aurora; carringtonevent; catastrophism; cme; coronalmassejection; region4366; science; sida; solarflares; sunsots; sunspots

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

One of these days we are going to get hit by several big ones of these.

But are we spending money to harden our systems? A bit. But not nearly enough.

[pricilla]

Congress should send a strongly worded letter to the sun to knock this crap off.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

It used to be that we’d hear about disruptions of satellite communications from large sun flares. Not so much anymore. I wonder if they have better protections built in.

[dfwgator]

Sunspot baby, sure had a real good time.

[FlingWingFlyer]

So that’s where all of the “global warming” came from that launched this winter’s “huge winter storm” and extreme cold front.

[dfwgator]

It also creates real good shortwave radio conditions.

I remember once I was able to get TV stations all the way in Canada, from Florida.

[Rio]

[Larry Lucido]

77 Sunspot Strip

[stars & stripes forever]

As if on cue...

SUNSPOTS to deflect attention from the Epstein scandal.

[telescope115]

That’s a pretty good Ha photo of it. I’ve been following this- it’s many times BIGGER than this planet. I would love to photograph it, but there are too many trees where I’m at.

That is a big sucker….

[SaveFerris]

That does it!!

We MUST blow up the Sun!!!

To save da Earth!!! 🌏🌎🌍

[Dead Corpse]

Literally every sun spot/flare story over the last decade has used the same verbiage...

We should be sitting on a smoking cinder by now if their breathless hyperbole was anywhere near accurate.

[Reily]

Can anyone say Carrington Event?

[SaveFerris]

I’m going to Kathmandu

If I ever get out of here

[dfwgator]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go-0H0LDkGI

[dfwgator]

The Sun?

What is it?

[Clay Moore]

Is there anything that global warming can’t do?

[Fury]

Noooooooo!!!!!!!!!!

[SaveFerris]

(The Sun?

What is it?)

We’re going to have to ask Stupid Sarah

https://youtu.be/IHTaMMyK274?si=EZJKU86LuBfTfDxa

(Way back when they were funny once in awhile)