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Topic 264 · Science, Technology & Space

Strongest solar storm in two decades; Aditya-L1

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Revise the 12 points first Book 1 RATNA
  1. Core Trigger: On 18-19 January 2026 an X1.9 solar flare launched a fast coronal mass ejection and an S4 solar radiation storm.
  2. Rating: NOAA ranked it S4 'Severe', four out of five on its solar radiation scale.
  3. Rating Body: NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center rates and forecasts such events.
  4. Visible Sign: Auroras appeared far outside the polar belt, as far south as Spain and Arizona.
  5. Data Point: Proton flux peaked at 36,976 pfu on 19 January 2026, third-highest on record after 1991 (43,000) and 1989 (40,000).
  6. Scales: NOAA uses G1-G5 for geomagnetic storms, S1-S5 for radiation storms and R1-R5 for radio blackouts.
  7. India Link: ISRO's Aditya-L1 observes the Sun from the Sun-Earth L1 point.
  8. Risks: Forecasters warned of risks to satellites, HF radio, power grids, astronauts and high-latitude flights.
  9. Flare Classes: Flares are classed A, B, C, M and X by peak soft X-ray flux; X-class is ten times M-class.
  10. Landmark: The Carrington Event of 1859 is named after British astronomer Richard Carrington, who observed that flare.
  11. Aurora Science: Charged particles follow Earth's magnetic field lines and excite oxygen and nitrogen atoms in the upper atmosphere.
  12. Definition: A coronal mass ejection is a plasma cloud from the corona reaching Earth in hours to days; S4 endangers spacewalking astronauts.
Question 1 of 10

What class of solar flare launched a fast CME on 18-19 January 2026?

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Answer: (C) X1.9

Core Trigger: On 18-19 January 2026 an X1.9 solar flare launched a fast coronal mass ejection and an S4 solar radiation storm.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 264, point 1

Question 2 of 10

What rating did NOAA give the January 2026 solar radiation storm?

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Answer: (D) S4 (Severe)

Rating: NOAA ranked it S4 'Severe', four out of five on its solar radiation scale.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 264, point 2

Question 3 of 10

Which NOAA centre rates and forecasts space weather events?

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Answer: (A) Space Weather Prediction Center

Rating Body: NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center rates and forecasts such events.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 264, point 3

Question 4 of 10

Auroras were seen as far south as Arizona and which European country?

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Answer: (B) Spain

Visible Sign: Auroras appeared far outside the polar belt, as far south as Spain and Arizona.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 264, point 4

Question 5 of 10

The January 2026 proton flux peak ranked third-highest after peaks in which years?

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Answer: (C) 1989 and 1991

Data Point: Proton flux peaked at 36,976 pfu on 19 January 2026, third-highest on record after 1991 (43,000) and 1989 (40,000).From Book 1 RATNA, topic 264, point 5

Question 6 of 10

From which point does ISRO's Aditya-L1 observe the Sun?

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Answer: (D) Sun-Earth L1 point

India Link: ISRO's Aditya-L1 observes the Sun from the Sun-Earth L1 point.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 264, point 7

Question 7 of 10

Forecasters warned of risks to satellites, HF radio, power grids, high-latitude flights and whom?

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Answer: (A) Astronauts

Risks: Forecasters warned of risks to satellites, HF radio, power grids, astronauts and high-latitude flights.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 264, point 8

Question 8 of 10

Which is/are correct? (1) Flares are classed A, B, C, M and X by peak soft X-ray flux. (2) X-class is ten times M-class.

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Answer: (C) Both 1 and 2

Flare Classes: Flares are classed A, B, C, M and X by peak soft X-ray flux; X-class is ten times M-class.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 264, point 9

Question 9 of 10

The 1859 Carrington Event is named after which British astronomer?

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Answer: (B) Richard Carrington

Landmark: The Carrington Event of 1859 is named after British astronomer Richard Carrington, who observed that flare.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 264, point 10

Question 10 of 10

Which is/are correct? (1) Auroras arise when charged particles excite hydrogen and helium atoms. (2) A CME is a plasma cloud from the corona reaching Earth in hours to days.

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Answer: (B) Only 2

Definition: A coronal mass ejection is a plasma cloud from the corona reaching Earth in hours to days; S4 endangers spacewalking astronauts.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 264, point 12

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