A huge solar flare has erupted from the sun, streaming radiation toward Earth.
The solar storm is expected to arrive early Saturday (Sunday NZT), but forecasters at the government's Space Weather Prediction Centre say they expected minimal impact to communication systems and power grids.
It may spark colourful auroras in southern Canada and northern United States.
The storm is part of the sun's normal 11-year cycle, which is supposed to reach a peak next year.
NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured the flare, wowing scientists with images of the massive outburst.
AP