For the first time in years we have a sunspot group that is visible to the (shielded) naked eye. AR1339 is 3 times wider than the Earth and a whopping 10 times longer. See attached photo taken in Galway on Saturday afternoon. No aurora warnings as of yet but the NOAA are estimating a 70% chance of M Class solar flares and 10% of an X class event.

Image after the break - note the size of the Earth in comparison to the group!

Another big flare and associated CME caught by the SDO last Thursday.

"Just as an active region rotated into view, it unleashed a large (X1.4 class) solar flare (Sept. 22, 2011) as well as several smaller flares and a significant coronal mass ejection. Predictions are that the storm will likely not impact Earth. Following the bright flare, one can see brilliant coils of magnetic field lines regrouping themselves. Images were taken by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory in extreme ultraviolet light."