Major X1.7-Class Solar Flare Erupts from the Sun - Strongest of 2013

The sun unleashed a colossal Mother's Day solar flare on Sunday (May 12) in what has become the most powerful solar eruption of the year.

The giant solar flare, which registered as one of the largest eruptions the sun can unleash, peaked Sunday night at 10:17 p.m. EDT (0217 GMT) and was captured on camera by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory.

It sparked an hour-long high-frequency radio blackout, according to the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) overseen by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Sunday's solar flare registered as an X1.7-class sun eruption — the strongest type of solar flare the sun can fire off, according to the SWPC officials.


A close-up of an an X1.7-class solar flare on May 12, 2013 as seen by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory.

When aimed directly at Earth, X-class solar flares can pose a risk to astronauts and satellites in orbit, as well as interfere with communications and GPS signals on the ground.

They can also super-charge Earth's northern lights displays by bombarding the planet with solar particles, triggering awesome aurora light shows.