A major new sunspot group just produced an X-class solar flare–potentially the first of many.
The explosion on April 17th (0334 UT) caused a shortwave radio blackout over Australia and parts of Asia, and it may have hurled a CME into space.
Developing story @ Spaceweather.com.
A pulse of X-rays from the flare produced a strong shortwave radio blackout over southeast Asia and Australia: map. Mariners, aviators, and ham radio operators may have noticed unusual propagation effects at frequencies below 30 MHz.
