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SEVERE SOLAR ACTIVITY: One of the most powerful solar flares in years, a remarkable X14-category explosion, erupted from sunspot 486 this morning at approximately 1110 UT. An intensifying S2-class solar radiation storm is in progress. The explosion almost certainly hurled a coronal mass ejection toward Earth, which could trigger bright auroras when it arrives on Oct 29th or 30th. Stay tuned for details.

Big solar storm will hit Earth Friday Oct 24th BOULDER, COLO. - A strong geomagnetic storm is expected to hit Earth on Friday. Scientists say it may knock out electrical grids and satellite communications. A "sunspot cluster" said to be 10 times the size of Earth could damage satellites and power grids, as well as cable TV, pager and cellular telephone service. Forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Boulder, Colo., say it is one of the largest sunspot clusters in years. Larry Combs, a forecaster at the federal Space Environment Center in Boulder, says the sunspot cluster...

SOLAR EXPLOSIONS: Solar activity is high. An intense X5-class solar flare erupted today (Oct. 23rd at 8:35 UT) from sunspot 486 near the sun's southeastern limb. The explosion hurled a coronal mass ejection (CME) into space. See the movie. Although the CME was not Earth-directed, it could deliver a glancing blow to our planet's magnetic field as early as Oct 24th (although the 25th is more likely). Sunspotcycle.com Another CME was already en route when this morning's explosion occured. Pictured right, it was launched on Oct 22nd by an explosion near sunspot 484. Forecasters expect it to arrive on Oct....

Text below reproduces what is found on linked site; linked site has featured image of MAJOR sunspot group. Forecasters at the NOAA Space Environment Center in Boulder, Colo., observed two dynamic areas of the sun, one of which has produced a coronal mass ejection, or CME, Wednesday morning at 3 a.m. EDT that appears to be Earth-directed. The forecasters are predicting a strong geomagnetic storm, G-3 on the NOAA Space Weather Scales, that should reach Earth on Friday, October 24. (Click here to view larger image from the SOHO spacecraft of the intense solar activity on the sun taken Oct....

<p>Sky watchers scrutinized Mars during its closest approach to Earth in 60,000 years this summer and were awed by red and green aurora displays as far south as Florida thanks to big explosions on the sun in recent weeks.</p> <p>And now more heavenly happenings are on the way.</p>