The sun has unleashed the most powerful solar flare since 2017, just days after it spat out another monster explosion. Both outbursts have launched solar storms that will likely hit Earth this weekend and trigger vibrant aurora displays.

Earth is bracing for blackouts after the sun unleashed a massive X-class solar flare — the most powerful it can generate — Tuesday evening.

A powerful solar flare has been hurled out of the Sun, and could cause disruption on Earth. The flare comes amid increasing solar activity that has brought a run of intense space weather in recent days and weeks.