The Sun experienced its most powerful flare since December 8.

A major M5.1 flare was recorded on the eastern edge of the Sun early this night. The event's power was approximately 50% of the highest X-level threshold. Maximum emission was recorded at 1:50 UTC. A warning was issued yesterday about the possibility of increased flare activity in the coming days due to the emergence of two major active centers on the Earth-facing side of the Sun.

This event is the most powerful since December 8, when the Sun's most recent X1.1 flare occurred.

Interestingly, the December 8 event and today's event apparently occurred in the same region of the Sun, which was located on the western edge of the Sun in early December. Since then, the Sun has completed approximately two-thirds of its rotation, and the same active center, having passed along the far side, has returned to the side visible from Earth—this time, on the eastern edge.

The expected peak of flare activity may occur during the New Year holidays. However, the likelihood of magnetic storms and bright auroras occurring on New Year's Eve itself is currently considered low due to the significant distance of active regions from the Sun-Earth line.