Sun fires X-class solar flare, launches third coronal mass ejection toward Earth in a week (video)

There are now three different types of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) heading towards our planet, which could mean increased chances this week of seeing aurora borealis across the northern United States and Europe.

Coronal mass ejections are huge explosions of magnetic field and plasma created by solar flares, which can trigger powerful geomagnetic storms for us on Earth. These storms are what give skywatchers the chance to witness the spectacular display of colors across the night sky known as the aurora borealis.

There were indeed two coronal mass ejections heading toward Earth from the M-class solar flares that erupted on Wednesday (August 7), scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center confirmed. In discussing their expectations Another X-class flare was produced on Thursday (August 8). This CME coincides perfectly with the peak of the Perseid meteor shower on August 11 and 12, meaning skywatchers could be in for not one but two spectacular celestial spectacles this week.