2003-10-28 19:24:00
Looks like a solar flare erupted from the sun and is headed directly at earth. It will reach us Wednesday afternoon. It is classified as X17.2 (3rd largest solar flare in history). The largest observed in 2001 was an X20 but was not directed at earth. This is unusual because the sun normally follows an 11-year cycle between outbursts. The last peak was in 2000.