Sun news: AR4246 departs in a blaze of M flares
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Sun news October 18, 2025. It’s been a week of intense flare activity on the Earth-facing side of our star. The main player has been AR4246, now seen at the 2 o’clock position on the sun’s face, among some other active regions on the sun. During our observation period, 11 UTC yesterday to 11 UTC today, AR4246 blasted out 8 M flares. A nearby region seems to say ‘farewell AR4246’ with a gorgeous prominence. GOES-19 SUVI image via NOAA.
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Sun news October 18: AR4246 departs in a blaze of M flares
(11 UTC October 17 – 11 UTC October 18)
Today’s top story: This week’s powerhouse sunspot region – AR4246, producer of most of this week’s flares – is now departing to the sun’s far side. And it’s going out with a fiesta of M flares! M flare production of the past day was of 10 flares, and AR4246 produced eight of those Ms. So sun activity is currently considered high. Take a look at our top image. AR4246 is the bright spot at the 2 o’clock position on the sun’s face. It’s almost out of view. A nearby ac