On December 29, 2024, the sun erupted with a powerful class X1.1 solar flare, one of the strongest types of solar explosions.

The flare, which occurred at 2:18 a.m. EST, caused a significant radio blackout in some regions of Earth.

NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center is analyzing whether it was accompanied by a coronal mass ejection (CME), which could potentially enhance aurora displays and affect satellites and power systems, Space.com has reported.

This flare, though intense, was not the largest of 2024, which was an X9 flare on October 3.

Written by B.C. Begley