Major X-Class Solar Flares Unleashed by Sun (Photos)

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X3.2 Solar Flare: 3rd in 24 Hours

Credit: NASA/SDO

This image shows an X3.2 solar flare (far left) erupting from the sun late Monday (May 13, 2013) as seen by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory. It was the third and most powerful major X-class solar flare in 24 hours. [Read the Full Story]

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X2.8 Solar Flare of May 13, 2013: Close-Up

Credit: NASA/SDO

On May 13, 2013, an X2.8-class flare erupted from the sun -- the strongest flare of 2013 to date. This NASA image shows a close-up of the flare as seen by the Solar Dynamics Observatory in the 131 angstrom wavelength.

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X2.8 Solar Flare of May 13, 2013: Full Disk

Credit: NASA/SDO

On May 13, 2013, an X2.8-class flare erupted from the sun -- the strongest flare of 2013 to date. This image of the flare, shown in the upper left corner, was captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory in light of 131 angstroms, a wavelength which is particularly good for capturing the intense heat of a solar flare and which is typically colorized in teal.

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Mother's Day Solar Flare Closeup: X1.7 Sun Storm

Credit: NASA/SDO/AIA

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

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Video Still of X1.7-Class Solar Flare of May 13, 2013

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

A video still shows the X1.7-class solar flare of May 13, 2013.

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May 13, 2013 Coronal Mass Ejection

Credit: ESA&NASA/SOHO

SOHO LASCO C2 image of the May 13, 2013 associated coronal mass ejection. [Read to full story.]

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X1.7-Class Solar Flare on May 13, 2013

Credit: Camilla_SDO (via Twitter)

An X1.7-class solar flare erupted from the sun on May 12, 2013. Here, the Solar Dynamics Laboratory has captured it on May 13. [Read to full story.]

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Sun Unleashes X1.7-Class Solar Flare: 5/12/13

Credit: NASA/SDO

This image from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory shows a colossal X1.7-class solar flare erupting from the sun at 10:17 p.m. EDT on May 12, 2013 (Mother's Day). It is the strongest solar flare of 2013 so far. [Read to full story.]

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X1.7-Solar Flare of May 12, 2013: Full Disk

Credit: NASA/SDO/AIA

The sun erupted with an X1.7-class solar flare on May 12, 2013. The flare appears as the bright point on the left of the sun in this full disk view NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory. It is a blend of two images of the sun recorded at different wavelengths of light. [Read to full story.]

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X1.7-Class Solar Flare

Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

On May 12, 2013, an X1.7-class solar flare erupted on sun. Here it is seen on the sun's limb on May 13.

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SDO Plot of X1.7-Class Solar Flare May 11-13, 2013

Credit: SDO/AIA

This plot by the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) shows solar activity May 11-13, 2013, when an X1.7-class solar flare erupted from the sun.

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Massive Solar Flares Wreak Havoc Above Earth (Infographic)

Credit: Karl Tate, SPACE.com Contributor

X-class flares top the scale with the most energy and potential to disrupt communications on Earth. See how solar flares stack up in this Solar Flare Infographic.

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Anatomy of Sun Storms & Solar Flares (Infographic)

Credit: Karl Tate/SPACE.com

Solar flares and massive plasma eruptions are just some ways our nearest star the sun can affect life on Earth. See how solar storms work in this infographic.

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NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory

Credit: NASA/Goddard

An artist's view of NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory in orbit.

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Third X-Class Solar Flare in 24 Hours

Credit: NASA/SDO/AIA

The sun unleashed another X-class flare at 9:11 pm (EDT) on May 13, 2013, the third in 24 hours. This image was taken later in the flare. [Read the full story.]

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Third X-Class Solar Flare in 24 Hours

Credit: NASA/SDO/AIA

The sun unleashed another X-class flare at 9:11 pm (EDT) on May 13, 2013, the third in 24 hours. This image was taken earlier in the flare. [Read the full story.]

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Sunspot Producing Third X-Class Solar Flare in 24 Hours

Credit: NASA/SDO/AIA

This sunspot unleashed another X-class flare at 9:11 pm (EDT) on May 13, 2013, the third in 24 hours. [Read the full story.]

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X1.2 Class Solar Flare May 14, 2013

Credit: NASA/SDO

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of the X1.2 class solar flare on May 14, 2013. The image shows light with a wavelength of 304 angstroms.

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X1.2 Solar Flare: May 14, 2013

Credit: NASA/SDO

A huge X1.2-class solar flare erupted from the sun late Tuesday (May 14, 2013), the fourth major flare in two days from a busy sunspot on the surface of the sun. NASA's Solar Dynamic Observatory captured this view of the event.

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Four X-Class Flares May 12-14, 2013

Credit: NASA/SDO/GSFC

These images from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory show four X-class flares emitted on May 12-14, 2013 – the first four X-class flares of 2013. Each panel is a blend of two images one showing light in the 171 Angstrom wavelength and the other in 131 Angstroms.

Major X-Class Solar Flares Unleashed by Sun (Photos)

X3.2 Solar Flare: 3rd in 24 Hours

X2.8 Solar Flare of May 13, 2013: Close-Up

X2.8 Solar Flare of May 13, 2013: Full Disk

Mother's Day Solar Flare Closeup: X1.7 Sun Storm

Video Still of X1.7-Class Solar Flare of May 13, 2013

May 13, 2013 Coronal Mass Ejection

X1.7-Class Solar Flare on May 13, 2013

Sun Unleashes X1.7-Class Solar Flare: 5/12/13

X1.7-Solar Flare of May 12, 2013: Full Disk

X1.7-Class Solar Flare

SDO Plot of X1.7-Class Solar Flare May 11-13, 2013

Massive Solar Flares Wreak Havoc Above Earth (Infographic)

Anatomy of Sun Storms & Solar Flares (Infographic)

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory

Third X-Class Solar Flare in 24 Hours

Third X-Class Solar Flare in 24 Hours

Sunspot Producing Third X-Class Solar Flare in 24 Hours

X1.2 Class Solar Flare May 14, 2013

X1.2 Solar Flare: May 14, 2013

Four X-Class Flares May 12-14, 2013

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