Posted: Sun, Apr 15, 2001, 8:24 PM ET (0024 GMT)
A powerful solar flare recorded Sunday should not pose a major threat to the Earth despite being one of the strongest ever recorded. The flare erupted from an active region on the western limb of the Sun, labeled 9415, at 9:50 am EDT (1350 GMT). The flare was classified as an X14 on the scale of solar flare strengths, making it the fifth most powerful flare recorded since statistics on x-ray solar flares were started 25 years ago. Because the flare erupted from a region near the limb of the Sun as seen from Earth, most of the flare's energy was directed away from the Earth, lessening the effect the flare will have on the Earth. Sunday's flare is the latest event in a period of very high solar activity: the most powerful flare ever recorded, an X20-class, took place early this month.

Related Links:

•  SpaceWeather.com
•  NOAA Space Environment Center