Astronomers say there s about a 30 percent chance that solar flares will disrupt telecommunications here on Earth today. The power flare erupted on Thursday. NASA scientists say it s the biggest one they ve seen in years. They ve given it a rating X , which is the strongest kind.
Sunspots are cooler, darker regions on the sun's surface caused by a distortion of magnetic fields.
A sunspot generates huge clouds of electrified gas and hurls them toward Earth. Except for temporary disruption of telecommunications equipment, the phenomenon is not dangerous. And if you look skyward at night, you may be able to see shimmering red and green in the northern skies.