I came across this in my regular NASA and other scientific scannings this morning and HAD to share it with everyone – the image alone makes it worthwhile!
But also I have to admit, the solar flare activity and all that was a part of the desire to share this as well, albeit secondary – I guess I’m curious as to how people will react to this news and how many will see this as yet another sign of the coming apocalypse if and when they hear about it.
On March 13, 2012, the sun erupted with an M7.9-class flare that peaked at 1:41 p.m. EDT. This flare was from the same active region, No. 1429, that has been producing flares and coronal mass ejections all week. That region has been moving across the face of the sun since March 2, and will soon rotate out of Earth view.
Click the image below to see a brilliant high-resolution version of this spectacular shot! This is really our sun itself folks!
What is a solar flare? What is a coronal mass ejection?
For answers to these and other space weather questions, please visit the Spaceweather Frequently Asked Questions page.
One Happy Monk's Reviews 
That picture is super neat.
I don’t typically worry about things that people say point to end times. There have been countless things that have occurred throughout time that have pointed to end times and we haven’t gotten there yet. It’s not that I don’t believe it will happen, but I don’t think the groans of the world and galaxy are necessarily anything new. I could launch into some kind of biblical explanation, but I’ll spare you mainly because I’m supposed to be grading papers. Don’t tell anyone that I’m not working though. 🙂
Your secret is safe with me, no worries.
And I don’t believe in end times either, just upheavals and changes in what we know as “the way it is” which is rarely ever the same for too long.
I recommend people read “the last and first men” to gain a little perspective on how things could go down the line and then try and think about the life they lead now and their attitude toward things.