Today's Solar Flare

(YouTube link)

This morning, a massive solar flare was caught live by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory. Though the flare is quite large (a M2.5, or medium-sized flare, in terms of energy), it isn't expected to alter the weather here on Earth.

"I've never seen material released like this before, such a huge amount that falls back down in such a spectacular way," says Goddard Spaceflight Center's Dr. C. Alex Young. "It looks like someone just kicked a giant clod of dirt into the air and it fell back down."

For a video with close-up footage of the flare, check out the post at PopSci. http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2011-06/video-mornings-massive-solar-explosion