Intense Solar Flare on Friday Causes Temporary Radio Blackout (AMAZING VIDEOS & PHOTOS)
The Sun released two solar flares on Friday, one of which was the most intense it could unleash.
YouTube/SolarWatcher
The first flare, classified as an X1.7 class, peaked at 4:01 am ET and the strong second flare, classified as an X2.1 class, peaked at 11:03 am ET. The Space Weather Prediction Center of the National Weather Service said the second flare resulted in a temporary radio blackout.
YouTube/liemee watcher
X-class flares are considered the most intense ones, while the numbers add more information of the flare's strength, with an X2 having double the intensity of an X1.
NASA's records show that the largest X-class flare of this cycle, which was an X6.9, happened on Aug 9. 2011.
However, while the two flares are very intensive, it would not likely cause a magnetic storm on Earth because of their launch position from a region of the Sun called 1882. It was the second and third flares the sun had emitted in three days.
But it could cause minor magnetic storms that could disrupt radios, navigation systems and radar and cause intense displays of the Aurora Borealis.