Sunspot AR3697 (formerly AR3664) unleased an X1.4-class solar flare recently. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured the fireworks.

This active region on the sun was responsible for a bevy of powerful flares and a massive solar storm that created the aurora show that captivated Earth dwellers earlier this month.

Footage courtesy: NASA / SDO and the AIA, EVE, and HMI science teams / HelioViewer