New Delhi: An X1.8 flare erupted from the Sun on 4 November at 17:34 hours UTC, causing a strong radio burst. This is the first X-class flare, the highest category of solar flares since a pair of X-class eruptions from the same source back in June . The X-class flare originated from an active region or sunspot cluster that grew in size and complexity on the far side of the Sun, away from the view of the Earth, which has now rotated into view. The sunspot cluster is designated as Active Region 4274 by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) or Sunspot Group 687 by the Solar Influences Data Analysis Centre (SIDC), operated by the Royal Observatory of Belgium.

The SWPC notification of the flare. (Image Credit: NOAA).

There is an associated fast coronal mass ejection

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