For the first time ever, astronomers have observed a coronal mass ejection (CME) coming from a star that isn’t our Sun. CMEs are massive eruptions we often observe coming from the Sun. They drive space weather and are responsible for phenomena such as the auroras we see near the Earth’s poles.

E arth is preparing for a multi-day barrage of solar material, with the most severe space weather impacts now forecast for November 11 and 12, a direct consequence of consecutive X-class solar flares, as per Space Weather. The solar flares would result in beautiful auroras and possible geomagnetic storms on the two days.

The X5.1-class eruption from sunspot AR4274 is this year's most powerful solar flare and Earth is in the firing line.

At about 0200 UTC (that’s 1pm AEDT) on November 12, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Australian Bureau of Meteorology reported large disturbances in Earth’s magnetic field due to the solar eruptions: a G4, or severe, geomagnetic storm.

Solar flares can cause impressive auroras on Earth. Now, one has been confirmed on a star for the first time – and it was much less harmless.

The back-to-back eruptions caused radio blackouts across two hemispheres as the active sunspots turn to face Earth.

Astronomers observed a massive, multi-temperature plasma eruption from a young Sun-like star, revealing how early solar explosions could shape planets. These fierce events may have influenced the atmosphere and life-forming chemistry of the early Earth.

Intense geomagnetic activity from the cannibal solar storm could threaten critical UK communications and satellite orbits

A powerful solar eruption from sunspot AR4274 triggered a massive X5.1-class solar flare, causing a Ground Level Event (GLE) with energetic protons re