Major Flare!

[FLO]

Earth-orbiting satellites detected a major X9-class solar flare this morning at 1035 UT (5:35 a.m. EST). The source: big, new sunspot 929, which is emerging over the Sun's eastern limb.

Because of the sunspot's location near the limb, the flare was not Earth-directed. Future eruptions could be, however, because the Sun's spin is turning the spot toward Earth. Sunspot 929 will be visible for the next two weeks as it glides across the solar disk.

More eruptions are likely.

GOES-13 captured this X-ray image of the blast:

Source: www.spaceweather.com

[FLO]

Found this on the BBC News site:

Nasa's orbiting Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (Soho) photographed the Sun unleashing a solar flare in mid-week. Flares emit particles from the Sun's surface. Astronauts on the International Space Station had to sleep in protective areas, as material from this flare headed towards Earth.