The sun unleashed an X-class solar flare, causing a temporary radio blackout over parts of the U.S. and releasing a coronal mass ejection (CME) expected to hit Earth, potentially creating auroras. The flare, from sunspot AR3842, had a magnitude of X7.1, the second most powerful of Solar Cycle 25. Radiation bypassed Earth’s magnetosphere, affecting the Pacific Ocean region. The CME is predicted to collide with Earth on Saturday, Oct. 5.