NASA said the first of the two flares on March 6-7 - classified in the potent X class and facing directly at the Earth - was the biggest this year and one of the largest of this cycle known as the solar minimum, which began in early 2007. In fact, it was second only to a stronger one that erupted in August. The sun erupts with one of the largest solar flares of this solar cycle in this multi-coloured NASA photo taken on March 6, 2012. This flare was categorised as an X5.4. Picture: REUTERS/NASA/SDO/AIA

Credit : REUTERS/NASA/SDO/AIA