The sun has unleashed the most powerful solar flare since 2017, just days after it spat out another monster explosion. Both outbursts have launched solar storms that will likely hit Earth this weekend and trigger vibrant aurora displays.

A powerful solar flare has been hurled out of the Sun, and could cause disruption on Earth. The flare comes amid increasing solar activity that has brought a run of intense space weather in recent days and weeks.

The Sun just unleashed the most powerful flare we've seen in seven years. On October 3, a flare measured at a strength of X9.0 exploded right in the middle of the solar disk. Even more excitingly, it was accompanied by what is known as a halo coronal mass ejection – one that is ejected straight at Earth.

The sun is in a spirited mood as it kicks out a glowing series of solar flares, including a fresh X9 that's the most intense we've seen in years.

Solar flares and coronal mass ejections are normal behavior for the Sun, particularly when it's in the peak of its activity cycle, as scientists believe is the case right now. They often occur in association with each other, erupting from sunspots on the surface of the Sun.

Sky watchers across North America are anxiously anticipating what could be the most intense display of aurora borealis in decades this weekend in the wake of two major solar flares.

An explosion happened on the sun Oct. 3, 2024, producing the most powerful solar flare since 2017 and kicking off a series of solar storms headed for Earth.