Sun Emits 19-Day Radio Burst, Shattering 5-Day Record
Updated
Updated · Gizmodo · May 19
Sun Emits 19-Day Radio Burst, Shattering 5-Day Record
2 articles · Updated · Gizmodo · May 19
A solar Type IV radio burst that began on Aug. 21, 2025 persisted for 19 days, making it the longest such event ever observed.
Four missions tracked it across three viewing windows—Solar Orbiter first, then Parker Solar Probe and Wind 12 days later, with STEREO-A making the final observation on Sept. 9.
Researchers used STEREO-A data to trace the source to a helmet streamer in the Sun’s corona, pointing to a long-lived reservoir of energetic electrons and magnetic activity.
Three coronal mass ejections from the same region likely sustained the burst, according to the team’s study in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
The radio waves were harmless, but the magnetic conditions behind them can disrupt spacecraft and satellites, giving the findings value for space-weather forecasting.
Last year's record solar burst lasted 19 days. Are our vital satellites prepared for the next super-storm?
Three solar explosions fueled one record-breaking storm. What other extreme phenomena are hiding in the Sun's corona?
After a 19-day solar storm, can we now predict the next major threat to Earth's power grids?
The 19-Day Solar Radio Burst of August 2025: Unprecedented Persistence Reshapes Space Weather Science
Overview
In August 2025, scientists observed a record-breaking Type IV solar radio burst that lasted an unprecedented 19 days, far longer than any previously recorded event. This burst was caused by vast reservoirs of electrons trapped within the Sun’s powerful magnetic fields, which are known to generate intense solar activity. The event quickly drew international attention and became a major focus of study, as its unusual duration challenged existing ideas about how long such solar phenomena can last. The findings from this event are helping scientists better understand the Sun’s dynamic behavior and improve space weather forecasting.