NASA: Double solar flare caused radio blackouts in Asia and Australia

An eruption of a sunspot caused a radio blackout in Asia and Australia on April 25, NASA says. The sunspot triggered a double solar flare which disrupted radio communication in parts of Asia and Australia.

The sunspot, named AR2993, erupted on Monday, causing a double solar flare event. The flares were classed as M-1, which are moderate in intensity but are capable of disrupting radio communication, according to spaceweather.com. (NASA)

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1/5 The sunspot, named AR2993, erupted on Monday, causing a double solar flare event. The flares were classed as M-1, which are moderate in intensity but are capable of disrupting radio communication, according to spaceweather.com. (NASA)

Solar physicist Dean Pesnell of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center told LiveScience in an email last week that Sunspot AR2993 is “middling in size”, but is still hundreds of millions of square kilometers in area. (Pixabay)

2/5 Solar physicist Dean Pesnell of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center told LiveScience in an email last week that Sunspot AR2993 is “middling in size”, but is still hundreds of millions of square kilometers in area. (Pixabay)

According to Live Science, Sunspots are formed when the magnetic field in an area on the Sun is much stronger than the surrounding areas. The magnetic forces block the flow of hot gas from the sun's interior, making sunspots much cooler than their surroundings. (Pixabay)

3/5 According to Live Science, Sunspots are formed when the magnetic field in an area on the Sun is much stronger than the surrounding areas. The magnetic forces block the flow of hot gas from the sun's interior, making sunspots much cooler than their surroundings. (Pixabay)

Just last week, Earth was witness to a powerful X-class flare emitted by the sun. X-class flares are almost 10 times more dangerous than M-class flares. Sun is currently in between its 11-year solar cycle and is witnessing various peaks in the cycle. (NASA)

4/5 Just last week, Earth was witness to a powerful X-class flare emitted by the sun. X-class flares are almost 10 times more dangerous than M-class flares. Sun is currently in between its 11-year solar cycle and is witnessing various peaks in the cycle. (NASA)

Thankfully, Earth did not bear the full intensity of the X-class flare as it was not facing the Sun directly. But as the solar activity increases, people might witness a beautiful sky phenomenon known as the auroras, which bring about Shifting curtains of light in greens, blues and pinks. (AFP)

5/5 Thankfully, Earth did not bear the full intensity of the X-class flare as it was not facing the Sun directly. But as the solar activity increases, people might witness a beautiful sky phenomenon known as the auroras, which bring about Shifting curtains of light in greens, blues and pinks. (AFP)