Double-X-flare

Yesterday morning we were meant to do incoherent scatter radar (ISR) observations of the EISCAT VHF. This was in conjunction with a demonstration/prototype system that is also being tested at the KAIRA site (more on this in a forthcoming article!). Then, in the afternoon, we'd revert to solar observing.

However, due to various issues we ended up postponing the VHF ISR observations to the afternoon. Sure enough during that time there was two X-class solar flares. Yep, not one, but two. After months of radio silence what there the chances (pretty good, it seems!).

In any case we were observing nonetheless and there was a chance we might have seen something in the sidelobes of the tile beams. Sure enough there were several hints of natural emission, which may be from the sun.