Sun Unleashes Major Solar Flare Over Easter, Triggering Radio Blackouts

A coronal mass ejection (CME) erupting from the sun on Jan. 23, 2012. The flare was reportedly the largest since 2005 and is expected to affect GPS systems and other communications when it reaches the Earth's magnetic field in the morning of Jan. 24. NOAA/National Weather Service's Space Weather Prediction Center via Getty Images

The sun produced a huge solar flare over the Easter holiday weekend, triggering radio blackouts over southeast Asia and Australia, experts said.

The Easter solar eruption peaked at 11:34 p.m. EDT on Sunday (0334 GMT on April 17), according to the United States Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), and was followed shortly after by a coronal mass ejection (CME).