Large solar flare erupts; little impact to Earth

[July 13, 2012]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A huge solar flare erupted from the sun Thursday, streaming radiation toward Earth.

The solar storm is expected to arrive early Saturday, but forecasters at the government's Space Weather Prediction Center say they expected minimal impact to communication systems and power grids.

It may spark colorful auroras in southern Canada and northern United States.

The storm is part of the sun's normal 11-year cycle, which is supposed to reach a peak next year.

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured Thursday's flare, wowing scientists with images of the massive outburst.

[Associated Press]

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