Video: A Major Eruption Occurred on the Sun. NASA Has Captured It

A major eruption has occurred on the Sun, leading to disruptions in radio communications in certain parts of Earth, according to Space.com. The eruption has reportedly also set the stage for further eruptions.

According to the U.S. Space Weather Prediction Center, the massive solar eruption, recorded as an X1.1 class powerful event, peaked at 10:48 AM Eastern Standard Time on Saturday. It originated from a region of the Sun known as Active Region 3217. As a result of the eruption, radio communications in South America were temporarily disrupted.

"More eruptions are expected from this region as it moves across the sun, sometimes causing degradation of high frequency (3-30 MHz) communications," stated a release from the U.S. Space Weather Prediction Center.

Solar eruptions are massive bursts of charged particles from the sun and can vary in intensity. Smaller A-class and C-class eruptions represent relatively insignificant events, while M-class strong eruptions can intensify the auroras observed on Earth. X-class eruptions are the most powerful type of solar eruptions. The most powerful X-class eruption ever recorded occurred in 2003 and was classified as an X28 eruption. It was even significant enough to overload sensors at the U.S. Space Weather Prediction Center.

Intense solar eruptions can also release vast amounts of solar material, known as coronal mass ejections. During eruptions, huge clouds of solar plasma can be expelled at speeds of up to 1 million miles per hour. When directed toward Earth, the strongest solar eruptions and coronal mass ejections can severely disrupt communication systems, the operations of power plants, and even pose risks to astronauts and satellites in space.