NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured dramatic images of a significant solar flare that peaked at 12:06 p.m. EDT Sunday.

The space agency's Solar Dynamics Observatory watches the sun on a constant basis and captured the significant solar flare classified as X8.2-class.

X-class identifies the most intense solar flares and the number provides additional information about its strength. For example, an X2 is twice as strong as an X1 and an X3 is three times as intense.

Solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation released from the sun, however, harmful radiation cannot pass through the Earth's atmosphere to cause any physical affects to humans.

Intense solar flares can however disrupt GPS and communications signals.

NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center predicted that X8.2 would impact HF radio with wide area blackouts and impacts on low-frequency communication degraded for an hour.

The X8, 2-class flare is the capstone of a series of flares from Active Region 2673, which was first identified on Aug. 29 and is rotating from the front of the sun.

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NASA captures images of strong solar flares
Washington (AFP) Sept 7, 2017
Two high-intensity solar flares were emitted Wednesday, the second of which was the most intense recorded since the start of this sun cycle in December 2008, NASA said. These radiation flares, which can disrupt communications satellites, GPS and power grids by reaching the upper Earth atmosphere, were detected and captured by the US Space Agency's Solar Dynamics Observatory. According to ... read more

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