NASA observatory captures massive solar flare

Washington, Jul 13: A solar storm is racing toward Earth this weekend - but scientists say there is no need to worry.






NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured images of the storm beginning with the eruption of a massive flare on Thursday.

NASA said the flare's coronal mass ejection (CME) was heading towards Earth at over 850 miles (1,368 kilometres) per second.

The flare erupted from Active Region 1520, a giant sunspot which rotated into view on 6 July.

The eruption's peak measured as an X-class, the most powerful type of flare the sun can have, officials said.

The force of the X1.4 class flare was stronger than the X1.1 flare which erupted on 6 July from the Active Region 1515 sunspot.

Scientists said the blast of charged solar particles was due to shake Earth's magnetic field around 1300 GMT on 14 July.

They forecasted it would be a minor event, which was unlikely to disrupt power grids or communications systems.

There is a bright side to stormy space weather - shimmering colourful auroras may be visible at the United States-Canada border and northern Europe this weekend.