Solar Flare Eruption Creates Spectacular Video, Images

GREENBELT, Md. (The Blaze/AP) -- A medium-sized solar flare has erupted from the sun in an impressive display captured by NASA cameras. Scientists say that the event won't have a significant impact on Earth.

NASA says the flare peaked Tuesday and created a large cloud that appeared to cover almost half the surface of the sun. Images were recorded by the orbiting satellite called the Solar Dynamics Observatory. You can watch the video below, which gets better after the first 15 seconds:

A news release says solar energy released by the event should deliver a "glancing blow" to Earth's magnetic field on Wednesday or Thursday.

But it's not expected to cause a major impact here. The National Weather Service is predicting minor effects on satellites and weak impacts on some power grids.