From: science.nasa.gov

Power transformers damaged by the March 13, 1989, geomagnetic storm:

[…]

“It’s rare that one can actually see the brightening of the solar surface,” says Hathaway. “It takes a lot of energy to heat up the surface of the sun!”

Above: A modern solar flare recorded Dec. 5, 2006, by the X-ray Imager onboard NOAA’s GOES-13 satellite. The flare was so intense, it actually damaged the instrument that took the picture. Researchers believe Carrington’s flare [1859] was much more energetic than this one.

[Imagine if this had been aimed at Earth — and this was during a solar minimum!]

Entire Article Here
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