A colossal solar storm just missed Earth. On October 21, 2025, a massive solar storm erupted from the far side of the Sun, launching a colossal coronal mass ejection (CME) into space. The explosion originated from active region AR 4246, just after it had rotated out of Earth’s view—narrowly sparing our planet from potential disruptions. CMEs are powerful bursts of magnetized plasma that, when directed at Earth, can trigger spectacular auroras and interfere with satellites and power infrastructure. This particular blast was captured in striking detail by NOAA’s GOES-19 satellite using the CCOR-1 coronagraph, which blocks the Sun’s glare to reveal dramatic views of the outer corona and solar activity in action. Earth dodged this solar outburst, but the flare-up underscores the Sun’s unpredictability—especially as it nears the peak of its 11-year cycle. Solar activity is ramping up, raising the odds of powerful space weather. A week earlier, the same eruption could have sparked major geomagnetic storms here.