NASA: Huge solar flare nearly hit earth in 2012

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA officials have confirmed that earth was nearly hit by a huge solar flare back in 2012.

The close call happened on July 23, 2012 but we just managed to escape, thanks to lucky timing.

Scientists say the most powerful solar storm in more than a century was occurring, but fortunately the sun was narrowly turned away from earth, so we escaped without incident.

If the storm had of occurred just one week earlier, earth would have been in the line of fire.

NASA says a direct hit would have wiped out communication networks and electrical grids around the world.