On Thursday, a powerful solar flare erupted from a complex sunspot on the surface of the sun. This X1.2-class flare is the most powerful category of solar flares and has the potential to cause geomagnetic storms that can affect Earth's magnetic field, potentially damaging satellites, communications equipment, and even the power grid. While this particular flare was relatively weak and caused a short-wave radio blackout over parts of Australia and the South Pacific, scientists believe that there could be more in this sunspot's arsenal.

Powerful solar flares are often accompanied by coronal mass ejections (CMEs) of hot plasma that can be hurled in the direction of Earth but at much slower speeds, taking a day or more to make the journey. When a strong CME makes a direct impact on Earth, it can result in bright auroral displays at higher latitudes and infrastructure damage. So far, there has been no report of a CME accompanying Thursday's flare. However, the sunspot that produced it has been active and has the potential to produce more flares and CMEs in the coming days. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center forecasts a 10% chance of more X-class flares over the weekend.

It is important to monitor solar activity as it can have significant effects on Earth. While the impact of this particular flare was minimal, future flares could potentially cause more serious problems. It is important for individuals and organizations to have plans in place to protect against the potential effects of solar activity.