GOES satellites detected a moderate M1.2-class solar flare on the Sun, peaking at 12:41 UTC on November 7, 2026. The flare’s X-ray output was measured at 1.2e-5 W/m², which corresponds to roughly an R1 (minor) event on NOAA’s radio-blackout scale — the lowest of the five levels.
Solar flares release energy that reaches Earth at the speed of light, so any effects begin almost immediately and are limited to the sunlit side of the planet. For an M1.2 event, the main impact is a brief fade or blackout of high-frequency (shortwave) radio signals — the kind used by aviation, maritime operators, amateur radio, and some emergency communications. These effects typically last minutes to an hour.
What You Might Notice
Most people will notice nothing at all. Everyday cell phones, Wi-Fi, and broadcast radio are not meaningfully affected by a flare of this size, and M-class flares pose no risk to people on the ground. Ham radio operators and shortwave listeners on the daylit side may have heard a temporary drop in signal quality around 12:41 UTC.
The one thing worth watching: flares are sometimes accompanied by a coronal mass ejection (CME) — a burst of solar material that travels much more slowly. If this flare launched a CME toward Earth, a geomagnetic storm could arrive in 1 to 3 days, which could bring stronger effects like auroras at lower latitudes and minor impacts to satellites and power systems. Forecasters will be analyzing imagery over the next several hours to determine whether a CME is headed our way.
Sensible steps right now: (1) keep an eye on NOAA’s space weather forecasts over the next 2-3 days for any CME or geomagnetic storm watch; (2) if a storm watch is issued and you live at higher latitudes, watch the Kp index — values of 5 or higher can mean visible auroras; (3) no special preparations are needed for an event of this size — this is awareness, not alarm.
Data and updates come from NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, using measurements from the GOES satellite fleet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this flare dangerous to people?
No. Solar flares of this size have no effect on human health on the ground — Earth's atmosphere shields us completely. The main impact is temporary disruption of shortwave radio on the sunlit side of Earth.
Will this affect my phone, GPS, or internet?
An M1.2 flare is too weak to cause noticeable problems for everyday technology. Only high-frequency radio users — such as aviation and ham radio operators — would have seen a brief signal fade.
Could this cause a bigger geomagnetic storm later?
Possibly, if the flare also launched a coronal mass ejection toward Earth. Forecasters will confirm that within hours; any storm would arrive in 1-3 days, so watch NOAA's forecasts and the Kp index.
Will there be auroras from this event?
The flare itself does not produce auroras, but if an Earth-directed CME followed it, a geomagnetic storm could make auroras visible at lower-than-usual latitudes in a few days. Check the Kp index for values of 5 or higher.
Keep tracking this:
Source: NOAA GOES X-ray Flux
Sky & Solar Conditions at the Time
Moon: New Moon (3% illuminated), in Libra.
Notable planetary angles: Moon sextile Jupiter (60°), Moon conjunct Venus (1°), Venus sextile Jupiter (59°), Venus sextile Mars (62°).
Concurrent space weather: planetary Kp index 3.3; strongest recent solar flare: M1.2-class.
This is a factual snapshot, not a claim of cause and effect – researchers are divided on whether lunar, planetary or solar factors influence seismic or weather activity. It’s included so readers can track the pattern for themselves over time.
