Massive Solar Flare Headed Toward Earth - NASA Image

The third most-powerful solar flare ever observed in X-ray wavelengths erupted from Sunspot 486 early October 28, 2003, at approximately 6 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. A coronal mass ejection (CME) directed almost straight at Earth preceded the flare, sending electrically charged gas toward our planet, say NASA and European Space Agency (ESA) scientist. The flare sent X-rays traveling at the speed of light toward Earth. The X-rays caused a radio storm in the ionosphere during the morning and early afternoon of October 28, 2003, according to NOAA's Space Environment Center (SEC). The CME will not arrive at Earth until approximately noon Wednesday October 29, 2003. (Photo by NASA/WireImage) *** Local Caption ***