Solar flares are raging: scientists record a geomagnetic storm and warn of possible auroras.

      Scientists note that the star’s activity resumed unexpectedly: “No one expected such a surge — the models showed a complete lull. But by the evening of October 12 the Sun literally ‘woke up’ and began ejecting energy,” the specialists wrote.

      According to the laboratory, two powerful active centers are currently observed in the quasar OJ287 (the focus of the observations), each exceeding 150,000 kilometers in diameter — more than ten times Earth’s diameter.

      “Each outburst is a C- or M-class flare; there have been no higher-class flares yet, but the potential exists,” the astronomers explained.

      The magnetic storm caused by the ejection of solar plasma has already reached Earth. According to the laboratory’s chart (see below), the Kp geomagnetic index rose to 5, corresponding to a G1-level storm — weak but noticeable. The chart shows that on the night of October 13 the magnetosphere shifted from an ‘excited’ state (yellow bars) to a ‘stormy’ one (red sector).

      Scientists note that, for now, the storm appears episodic, but its intensification by midweek is not ruled out.

      “The response of the geomagnetic indices will begin roughly on Wednesday, maybe Thursday,” the laboratory forecasts.

      Meanwhile, the first photos of the aurora have already started coming in from regions around 70° latitude.