Sun Produces Biggest Solar Flare In Nearly Two Decades

This image provided by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory shows a solar flare, the bright flash at right, on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. The sun produced its biggest flare in nearly a decade Tuesday, just d

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The sun unleashed its most powerful solar flare in almost 20 years on Tuesday, following a series of severe solar storms that recently impacted Earth and led to stunning displays of northern lights in unusual locations.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed that this solar flare is the most significant one of the current 11-year solar cycle, which is nearing its peak. Fortunately, Earth is not expected to be directly affected this time as the flare occurred on a part of the sun facing away from our planet.