M2.6-class Coronal Mass Ejection [HD]

The Solar Flare produced a M2.6-class Coronal Mass Ejection, which appears to be Earth directed. Current forecasts have it to arrive on January 21, 2012 at approx. 22:30 UT (let's give or take 7 hours... it's over 90 million mile journey after all).

NASA Goddard Space Weather Lab is predicting possible strong geomagnetic storms. What will it mean for us? No the earth's core won't be heating up because of it and the sun certainly never, ever causes earthquakes and doesn't cause disruptions in our geomagnetosphere as some 2012 doomsday sayers are predicting. We'll have some beautiful Auroras and perhaps some communications interruption but no major issues are expected.

A view of the Active Regions 1401 and 1402 over the past couple of days shows the development of those beautiful sunspots. Then two views of the solar flare through the SDO instrument before concluding with views from STEREO Ahead and Behind.

Credit: NASA SDO & NASA STEREO & SOHO