The sun’s giant sunspot AR3590 was aimed straight at Earth, and observers noted it released the most powerful ejection seen in years. Spaceweather.com documented the event as a standout in solar activity.
AR3590 first appeared on the sun’s Earth-facing disc on February 18 and quickly grew into a dark, sprawling region many times larger than our planet. On February 21, the sunspot unleashed two strong X-class flares, measured at X1.7 and X1.8. Then, on February 22, it produced a massive X6.3 flare, the most intense solar eruption in more than six years according to solar monitoring sources.
These three bursts disrupted high-frequency radio communications on Earth for a period, reminding observers of how closely solar activity can ripple through everyday technology.
Following the X-class triple flare, AR3590 continued to expand, nearly doubling in size. It stands among the largest sunspots observed in the current solar cycle, a period that began in 2019 and remains active with evolving magnetic dynamics.
Experts note that the sunspot’s unstable magnetic field stores energy that can power additional Class X explosions. If another eruption occurs soon, Earth could experience not only radio interference but also a surge of solar plasma creating a geomagnetic storm. Such a storm has the potential to affect satellite operations and power grids, underscoring the importance of space weather monitoring for infrastructure that relies on satellite communications and navigation systems.
Earlier assessments by scientists emphasized the broader consequences for Earth when multiple powerful solar flares occur in close succession. These events are closely watched by space agencies and research teams who study how coronal mass ejections interact with the planet’s magnetosphere and atmosphere.