LOS ANGELES, June 3 (Xinhua) -- The Sun emitted a strong X1.0-class solar flare on Wednesday, peaking at 7:28 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time (1128 GMT), according to NASA.
NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, which continuously monitors the Sun, captured imagery of the event.
Solar flares are intense bursts of radiation released from the Sun. According to NASA, strong flares and associated solar activity can affect radio communications, power grids and navigation systems, while also posing potential risks to spacecraft and astronauts.
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center said the flare triggered R2-level, or moderate, radio blackout conditions in parts of the sunlit side of Earth.
The center also forecast a G3-class geomagnetic storm through Friday. Such storms can produce limited disruptions to some technological infrastructure, and also enhance auroral activity, making the northern lights visible across a wide swath of the Northern Hemisphere.
