CNN Science
Updated 5:50 PM ET, Wed July 7, 2021
(CNN) The first large flare of the current solar cycle has erupted from the sun.
The solar flare happened at sunspot AR2838 at 10:29 a.m. ET on July 3, according to the US Space Weather Prediction Center.
Researchers at the center measure the intensities of solar flares on a scale, with A-class flares being the smallest and X-class flares being the largest. The scientists classified the July 3 flare as an X1, which is the largest category of solar flares.