Coronal Mass Ejection Headed for Earth

 

On August 1st around 0855 UT, Earth orbiting satellites detected a C3-class solar flare. The origin of the blast was Earth-facing sunspot 1092. C-class solar flares are small (when compared to X and M-class flares) and usually have few noticeable consequences here on Earth besides aurorae. This one has spawned a coronal mass ejection heading in Earth's direction... 

(Read the rest of http://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/sunearthsystem/main/News080210-cme.html)