NASA tracks X-class solar flare many times larger than Earth

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The sun burped on Monday, triggering a spectacular eruption many times larger than Earth that NASA cameras were fortunately able to track in exquisite detail.

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory said the flare, recorded just after 11 p.m. EST, was the seventh “X-class” solar flare recorded this year.

It hit a peak of X1, the weakest on the scale, while the strongest flare this cycle hit X6.9 in August of last year.

X-class flares can send massive plumes of radiation toward Earth, which can sometimes cause interference with radio and GPS signals.

NASA said the interference from Monday’s flare was mild and went away after a short time.

This video was published to YouTube by NASA on October 23, 2012.