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Monster X-class flare launches massive solar storm towards Earth — and could trigger auroras this weekend

Live Science
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The sun unleashed an enormous X-class solar flare on Tuesday ( Oct. 1 ) It was the second most powerful solar explosion of the current solar cycle, Solar Cycle 25 , which began in 2019 .

NASA predicts a coronal mass ejection ( CME ) will likely slam into Earth on Saturday .

It bypassed Earth 's magnetic shield, or magnetosphere, and ionized the upper parts of the upper atmosphere, creating a radio blackout above parts of Hawaii .