NASA reports a X1.4 class flare erupted from the center of the sun recently, peaking on July 12, 2012 at 10 AM PST. It erupted from a part of the sun known as Active Region 1520, which rotated into view on July 6.

Heres the image released by the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

An X1.4 class flare erupted from the center of the sun, peaking on July 12, 2012 at 12:52 PM EDT. (NASA image)

If you think that looks pretty big, youre right. The flare has been classified as strong, meaning theres the potential for technological interference here on Earth mostly related to radio interruption and navigation malfunction.

The flight center reports there was a coronal mass ejection occurred simultaneously. These strong solar winds are associated with the aurora effect here on Earth, meaning we could be in for some pretty sights. Take a look at the aurora pictures in this gallery and see if you think if its worth the risk of electronic interruption.

A look at recent sunspots, ejections and flares.

An X1.4 class flare erupted from the center of the sun, peaking on July 12, 2012 at 12:52 PM EDT. It erupted from Active Region 1520 which rotated into view on July 6.

An active region spurted off at least half a dozen solar flares and numerous other small bursts of plasma over about 36 hours (Apr. 29 - May 1, 2012). The bright active region, viewed in extreme ultraviolet light by Solar Dynamics Observatory, must have had a tangled magnetic field for it to erupt so frequently. None of the flares were major, but they made for a nifty movie. (NASA/SDO)

The sunspot region AR 1429 that generated several major solar storms recently. The spot is almost always changing as its magnetic fields realign themselves. (NASA)

A large sunspot region (AR1429) unleashed an X5 class flare (the second largest of this solar cycle) and a smaller one (X1) late on March 6, 2012, seen in extreme ultraviolet light by the SDO spacecraft. The bright flare (with several smaller flashes) was followed by a large coronal mass ejection that smacked Earth with a moderately strong geomagnetic storm two days later. (NASA)

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