somewhat OT....but still significant.
The sun wakes up finally...releases a X flare.
An X2.1 class solar X-ray flare occurred on 2015-Mar-11 with a peak time of 16:22UT. The flare occurred in NOAA AR 2297. (sunspot #)
X2-FLARE AND RADIO BLACKOUT: Sunspot AR2297 has just unleashed a strong Earth-directed solar flare (March 11 @ 16:22 UT). Extreme UV radiation from the blast, which measured X2 on the Richter Scale of Flares, is causing HF radio fade-outs and other propagation effects on the dayside of Earth, primarily over the Americas: map. Meanwhile, natural radio emissions from the sun suggest that a CME might be emerging from the blast site at speeds exceeding 1,400 km/s (3.1 million mph).
breaking story..
kind of interesting as well....many think solar activity and earthquakes have a link...and this just happened to occur 1 minute after the flare :
5.4 Mag. Earthquake hit Costa Rica
Additional X-flares possible as 2297 is just starting to ramp up and become more earth-facing.
First images :