The sun fired off two huge X-class solar flares on Sunday and Monday, and NASA is reporting they are the most powerful eruptions to date this year.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, a huge X1.7-class solar flare erupted from the surface of the sun, followed by an even more powerful blast less than 24 hours later on Monday, according to LiveScience.com<\/a>.\u00a0 To date, both of these eruptions are the strongest ones seen yet in 2013, and may signal an increase in solar activity.<\/p>\n According to NASA, the X2.8-class flare on Monday is the \u201cstrongest solar eruption of 2013.\u201d\u00a0 The sun is in its active phase of the current 11-year solar cycle (Solar Cycle 24) which began in 2008 and is predicted to peak this year.<\/p>\n SEE VIDEO:\u00a0 http:\/\/www.space.com\/21119-major-fireworks-on-sun-two-x-flares-on-same-day-video.html<\/a><\/p>\n Sunday\u2019s flare occurred at 0217 UT Sunday night, and was followed by another X2.8-class eruption on Monday at 1605 UT.\u00a0 X-class solar flares are the most powerful types of solar eruptions and, when aimed towards Earth, are capable of interfering with satellites in orbit and communication infrastructures on the ground.\u00a0 Strong solar eruptions are also capable of causing radiation storms which affect and intensify aurora displays (northern and southern lights).<\/p>\n The coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that often accompany solar flares can spawn geomagnetic storms which may cause widespread damage.\u00a0 In 1989, a powerful solar storm caused a blackout in Quebec<\/a> which left more than 6 million people in the dark and cold for more than nine hours and caused approximately $2 billion dollars in damages.<\/p>\n The flare on Sunday unleashed a coronal mass ejection (CME) composed of charged particles and plasma.\u00a0 Although the CME was not aimed directly at Earth, it was still strong enough to cause an hour-long high-frequency radio blackout according to NOAA\u2019s Space Weather Prediction Center.<\/p>\n The eruptions came from an active sunspot on the far side of the sun which is not facing the Earth.\u00a0 Astronomer Tony Phillips of Spaceweather.com<\/a> notes, however, that \u201cSoon, in a few days, it will turn toward Earth, emerging into view over the sun\u2019s eastern limb.\u201d\u00a0 He also noted that \u201cNASA\u2019s infrared Spitzer Space Telescope and Deep Impact\/Epoxi spacecraft may be in the line of fire of the solar flare.\u201d<\/p>\n The sunspot responsible for the current huge eruptions of X-class solar flares has now been active for a week, previously firing off a \u201cnumber of medium-strength M-class solar flares.\u201d\u00a0 Indications are that as it turns toward Earth, more solar eruptions are to be expected, and scientists predict more activity from the sun over the coming months.<\/p>\n