Sun has biggest solar flare of the year
The bright spot near the center of the photo is a solar flare that NASA observed on Sunday.
February 15th, 2011
12:14 PM ET

Sun has biggest solar flare of the year

If you live at a high northern or southern latitude, watch for some spectacular lights in the sky Tuesday night.

The sun unleashed its strongest solar flare of the year Sunday, and the cloud of radiation it spewed will hit Earth's magnetic field Tuesday, NASA said.

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded a brief but intense flash signaling the ejection of a cloud of ultraviolet radiation.

The source of the flare, sunspot 1158, is growing rapidly, the observatory reported.

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Filed under: Science • Space
soundoff (291 Responses)
  1. Jeff Wilson

    Gonna be a really nice aurora light show for people up in Alaska and Canada and the South Pole.

    February 15, 2011 at 2:11 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Ruffnutt

    Ana don't be stupid this is not the twilight zone this is real and its going to kill you and your family

    February 15, 2011 at 2:13 pm | Report abuse |
  3. White Russian

    It's ok if you want to wear the minimum pieces of flare , but I would like to see a little more flare out of you.

    February 15, 2011 at 2:14 pm | Report abuse |
  4. WHALEOFIDEA

    We are all going 2 die !! How we going to live until Dec 2012 and see the end of world?

    February 15, 2011 at 2:16 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Yawn43

    Yawn...

    February 15, 2011 at 2:17 pm | Report abuse |
    • Gummybear

      Yawwwwwwwn

      February 15, 2011 at 4:54 pm | Report abuse |
  6. White Russian

    As for solar events, necessary info is explained in Soundgarden's mediocre hit Black Hole Sun.

    February 15, 2011 at 2:20 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Nostradamus

    You people should have read my book while you had the chance!

    February 15, 2011 at 2:21 pm | Report abuse |
  8. coffegirl

    Major Solar Flare on the 14th and earthquakes at Mt. St. Helen on 15th...Nope, space has nothing to do with what happens here on earth! Ooops, did I let my nut job out. lol

    February 15, 2011 at 2:22 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Bill

    So the sun farted?

    February 15, 2011 at 2:22 pm | Report abuse |
  10. White Russian

    Apparently it will "wash away the rain" whatever that means.

    February 15, 2011 at 2:24 pm | Report abuse |
  11. Ryan

    I didn't pay much attention to it yesterday morning when I noticed it but, I said to my co-worker that the sun felt like it had an extra punch to it. SE Florida here.

    February 15, 2011 at 2:24 pm | Report abuse |
  12. nut case II

    mmm the sun just spewed over the earth... anyone else feel a little bit dirty. you know....
    Rowdy
    Gonna get a little unruly
    Get it fired up in a hurry
    Wanna get dirrty
    It's about time that I came to start the party
    Ooh sweat dripping over my body
    dancin' getting just a little naughty
    Wanna get dirrty (oh, oh)
    It's about time for my arrival

    i knew christina's song would come in handy somewhere...

    February 15, 2011 at 2:28 pm | Report abuse |
  13. Ruffnutt

    Ryan its not the sun its your mothers azz

    February 15, 2011 at 2:29 pm | Report abuse |
    • RUFFNUTT

      it's the clone again..

      February 15, 2011 at 5:33 pm | Report abuse |
    • RUFFNUTT

      i guess fake ruffnutt is useing lower case now..

      February 15, 2011 at 5:36 pm | Report abuse |
  14. Ryan

    It can't be all that bad. The report says the radiation will hit Earth's magentic field Tuesday. It's Tuesday afternoon where I'm at now in Michigan, and everything looks fine. Covered in snow and ice, but fine for this time of year.

    February 15, 2011 at 2:29 pm | Report abuse |
  15. Willy

    Oh my gosh! The sun burped! Help! The sun is burping!

    February 15, 2011 at 2:30 pm | Report abuse |
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