This Friday The 13th May Bring Intense Solar Flares, Communication Problems

Three X-class flares erupted from the left side of the sun June 10-11. These images are from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory and show light in a blend of two ultraviolet wavelengths: 171 and 131 Angstroms. The former is colorized in yellow, the latter in red. (NASA/SDO/Goddard)

A solar flare bursts off the left limb of the sun in this image captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory on June 11, 2014, at 9:05 a.m. EDT. This is classified as an X1.0 flare, shown in a blend of two wavelengths of light: 171 and 131 angstroms, colorized in gold and red, respectively. (NASA/SDO/Goddard)

The second X-class flare of June 10, 2014, appears as a bright flash on the left side of this image from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory. This image shows light in the 131-angstrom wavelength, which is typically colorized in teal. It was captured at 8:57 a.m EDT, just after the flare peaked. (NASA/SDO)

The second X-class flare of June 10, 2014, appears as a bright flash on the left side of this image from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory. This image shows light in the 193-angstrom wavelength, which is typically colorized in yellow. It was captured at 8:55 a.m EDT, just after the flare peaked. (NASA/SDO)