Sunburst could be a big blow

The sun is nearing the peak of its activity cycle, spitting out flares and plasma like a dragon.

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July 12, 2012

This false-color image released by NASA shows a solar flare, lower center, erupting from the sun. The flare erupted from a region that rotated into view on July 6. A resulting geomagnetic storm is likely to hit Earth over the July 14-15 weekend, though U.S. agencies differed on predicting its severity.

/ AP

This image, captured by the Solar Dynamics Observatory, shows the M5.3-class solar flare that peaked on July 4 and was released on July 5. The flare is shown in the 131 Angstrom wavelength, which is particularly good for capturing the radiation emitted from flares. The wavelength is typically colorized in teal, as shown here.

/ Reuters

March 4, 2012

This image released by NASA is a view of a X1 solar flare in a new active region on the Sun, region 1429. It has let loose two M-class flares and one X-class so far. The M-class flares erupted on March 2 and on March 4. The third flare, rated an X1, peaked at 10:30 ET on March 4. A CME accompanied each flare, though due to the fact that this active region is still off to the side of the sun, the flares will likely have a weak effect on Earth's magnetosphere.

/ AP

Jan. 27, 2012

This NASA image, obtained Feb. 7, 2012, shows a large X-class flare that erupted from an active region near the solar west limb. X-class flares are the most powerful of all solar events. Seen here is an image of the flare captured by the X-ray telescope on Hinode. This image shows an emission from plasma heated to greater than eight million degrees during the energy release process of the flare.

/ AFP/Getty Images

Jan. 23, 2012

This colorized NASA image from the Solar Dynamics Observatory, shows a flare shooting out of the top of the sun. It was taken in a special teal wavelength to best see the flare. Space weather officials say the strongest solar storm in more than six years is already bombarding Earth with radiation with more to come.

/ AP

Jan. 23, 2012

This image provided by NASA, captured by the Solar Dynamics Observatory, shows an M9-class solar flare erupting on the Sun's northeastern hemisphere at 03:49 Universal Time, just 4 days after a previous strong CME that sparked aurora around the world.

/ AFP/Getty Images

Jan. 19, 2012

A solar flare is captured by Solar Dynamics Observatory.

/ AFP/Getty Images

June 7, 2011

A solar flare erupts off the sun, causing a large cloud of particles to fly off its surface.

/ Getty Images

July 3, 2008

Multiple flares erupt from the sun's surface. Major flares could knock some of the North American power grid offline.

/ AP

Oct. 28, 2003

A spectacular eruption on the surface of the sun, seen by NASA's SOHO space satellite, sent charged particles hurling toward Earth.

/ AP

Oct. 20, 1999

Energy leaving the sun's surface was photographed using a coronograph at National Solar Observatory in Sunspot, N.M. Eruptions like these are the kind of solar activity that impact the belts that shield the Earth, causing spikes that can knock out satellites.

/ AP

May 28, 1998

The intense bright region in this X-ray image of the sun shows a moderately sized solar flare on its surface. The solar flare, which shot out of a huge bubble of superheated gas, was accompanied by a quake inside the sun equal to a 11.3-magnitude quake on Earth.

/ AP

FEATURED PHOTO GALLERIES

HOUSTON, TX—APRIL 25: Naomi Haskell poses for a portrait with her son, Spencer, 19, at her home in suburban Houston, Texas, on Thursday, April 25, 2013. Since he was diagnosed with a type of schizophrenia two years ago, her focus has been on keeping him well. (Photo by Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post)

A mom and her son face the challenge of mental illness

Naomi Haskell helps her son Spencer deal with the challenges presented by his schizophrenia. She spends her days torn between worry and hope...

ANNAPOLIS MD: MAY 24
The Class of 2013 culminates their commissioning ceremony with the hat toss, a traditional ending to the ceremony, originated at the Naval Academy in 1912. The 'hat toss' has since become a symbolic and visual end to the four-year program. Photographed at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland on May 24, 2013.
(Photo by Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

They tossed their caps in Annapolis

The 2013 Class of the U.S. Naval Academy holds its graduation and commissioning ceremonies. President Obama spoke at the graduation.

PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 19: Mark Melancon #35 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches in the eighth inning against the Houston Astros during the game on May 19, 2013 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Pirates defeated the Astros 1-0. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

MLB power rankings

Barry Svrluga assesses the best teams in Major League Baseball through Thursday.

epa03714567 A Thai Buddhist family take an offering of lotus flowers to pay respects to a giant Buddha surrounded by more than 1,000 smaller Buddha statues at a Buddhism Park, on Vesak or Visakha Bucha day, in Nakhon Nayok, north of Bangkok, Thailand, 24 May 2013. Buddhist devotees throughout the world offer blessings at temples to mark one of the holiest days in Buddhism, commemorating the birth, enlightenment and the death of Buddha. EPA/BARBARA WALTON

Photos of the day

Buddhist Wesak festival, prisoners-of-war reunion, bridge collapse, world’s largest Lego model and more.

SILVER SPRING MD: MAY 18
from left to right, Bodybuilders Jorge Villatoro, Sidney Bumbrey, Eric Holmes and Ron Coleman show off their most muscular poses for the judges at the 2013 Musclemania - Capital Tournament of Champions Contest held at the Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center in Silver Spring, Maryland on May 18, 2013.
(Photo by Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

Flexing their muscles

Dozens of bodybuilders came out to Silver Spring to compete in the 2013 Musclemania Capital Tournament of Champions.

epa03714543 US actress Carmen Electra arrives for the Life Ball gala, at the airport Schwechat, in Vienna, Austria, 24 May 2013. The 21th Life Ball, an annual fundraising charity event for HIV and Aids projects, takes place at the Vienna City-Hall on 25 May 2013. EPA/HERBERT NEUBAUER

Eye on entertainment

Carmen Electra, Barbara Eden, Sharon Stone, Goldie Hawn, Jaden Smith and more.

MOORE, OK - MAY 24: A 'For Sale' sign hangs in a tree in a storm ravaged neighborhood on May 24, 2013 in Moore, Oklahoma. The tornado of EF5 strength and two miles wide touched down May 20 killing at least 24 people and leaving behind extensive damage to homes and businesses. U.S. President Barack Obama promised federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Assessing tornado damage in Oklahoma

Amid great destruction, residents of the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore begin to assess the severity of the twister that hit Monday.

WASHINGTON DC: MAY 22
Contestant Travis Rumans, 31 dances with his beloved glow sticks for talent at Penn Social in Washington, DC on May 22, 2013. The contestants help raise over $15,000 for the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
The Mr. DC pageant is a fundraising event to benefit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
The qualifications for the Mr. District of Columbia finalists is that they must live, work and attend school in the District of Columbia between the ages of 21-30 who are unmarried, intelligent, and dapper in a suit.
(Photo by Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

Mr. D.C. Pageant contestants compete for charity

Contestants in the Mr. D.C. Pageant, a fundraising event, helped raise more than $15,000 for the Children’s National Medical Center.

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