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. Whacko

    I blame Bush.

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

    How many peices of flare should you have on your outfit?

    February 15, 2011 at 2:31 pm | Report abuse |
  3. jojo

    If we don't control our carbon emissions, we can only expect to see MORE of these solar flares in the future...climate change is REAL people and that is why so many extremes are happening, not just on earth, but even the sun now.

    teehee

    February 15, 2011 at 2:32 pm | Report abuse |
    • nut case III

      no joke, and with all the big brothers in the sky it only a matter of time before the dinosaurs come back!

      February 15, 2011 at 2:33 pm | Report abuse |
  4. mark

    Must be global warming! Alert Gore!

    February 15, 2011 at 2:35 pm | Report abuse |
  5. SirGamiad

    Hers something else to remind us what else could also go wrong when we'll in such good shape economically

    February 15, 2011 at 2:35 pm | Report abuse |
  6. eric

    Solar flares. That my friends is the true reason for global warming. Not man or his carbon footprint. The temperature on mars has increased during the same time Earth has experienced higher temps. How is that possible as there are no SUV's or farting cows there?

    February 15, 2011 at 2:36 pm | Report abuse |
    • PCola Vet

      Possibly because Mars has little to no atmosphere, and nothing to protect it from the sun freaking out? So when we get a little hotter, it get's ASTRONOMICALLY hotter?

      February 15, 2011 at 2:45 pm | Report abuse |
  7. grandmotherfukker

    Nutcase your grandmother is coming back from her grave

    February 15, 2011 at 2:37 pm | Report abuse |
    • nut case III

      oh nos. i best give her teeth back as i was usen dem for my feet.

      February 15, 2011 at 2:40 pm | Report abuse |
  8. bm

    A lot of human-centric arrogance showing in these posts and are not prepared to what is out there.

    February 15, 2011 at 2:37 pm | Report abuse |
    • PCola Vet

      Exactly bm. We know so little about the sun, that it could at any time eject enough plasma to melt Earth. I think it's fantastic and at the same time, a wee bit scary.

      February 15, 2011 at 2:43 pm | Report abuse |
    • nut case III

      I'll fire my plasma bolt at you!

      February 15, 2011 at 2:48 pm | Report abuse |
  9. kburgoyne

    It's Obama's fault... oh no wait, this one's Boehner's fault... no, that was the other one... THIS one's Biden's fault... or was that one of the earlier ones and this is the one Palin's responsible for...

    I think I need to go listen to some political pundits some more so I can understand this a little better...

    February 15, 2011 at 2:38 pm | Report abuse |
  10. ROCK

    OMG Death by neutrinos

    February 15, 2011 at 2:40 pm | Report abuse |
  11. jimthehero

    I hate it when Nick Cage predicts the future with his crappy movies and acting

    February 15, 2011 at 2:42 pm | Report abuse |
  12. Canopy

    The sun goes through these cycles regularly and its enterting into a more "volatile" period. They're just preparing us so we'll understand why the internet and cable get knocked out intermittently.

    February 15, 2011 at 2:42 pm | Report abuse |
  13. bailoutsos

    Solar flares will be increasing as 2012 approaches and then KABOOM. End of the Earth. Make your plans accordingly.

    February 15, 2011 at 2:44 pm | Report abuse |
  14. Laurie

    come on ruffnutt, relax. the language isn't part of the sun farting...
    It is good to be able to joke about all this. I hope all of you are really listening... and planning your escape...

    February 15, 2011 at 2:51 pm | Report abuse |
  15. ET

    MJ wasn't just setting a personal trend with the umbrella

    February 15, 2011 at 2:55 pm | Report abuse |
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