Earth to Experience , Third Near-Miss br by Solar Eruption , in a Week.br The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrationbr (NOAA) warns that Earth could potentially br be in the path of an eruption of energy from the sun. .br 'Newsweek' reports that this is the third time br in a week the planet has narrowly dodged br a direct hit from a coronal mass ejection (CME).br 'Newsweek' reports that this is the third time br in a week the planet has narrowly dodged br a direct hit from a coronal mass ejection (CME).br According to SpaceWeather, the CME is due to deliver a glancing blow to Earth on March 23. .br While Earth may not be hit directly, the CME is expected br to energize Earth's auroras, the multicolored sky br phenomena known as the northern and southern lights. .br 'Newsweek' reports that CMEs have br the ability to disturb Earth's magnetic field br and cause issues with electrical systems. .br NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center br (SWPC) issued a warning that there br could be weak power grid fluctuations. .br Newsweek reports that similar br solar eruptions were reported on March 14, br then again on March 20 and 21. .br The frequency of CMEs is dependent upon br where the sun is in its 11 year cycle. .br 3 near-miss CMEs in the span of a week isn't necessarily unusual at the height of solar maximum, but to happen now may be something of a statistical fluke, Martin Archer, a space weather researcher at Imperial College London's Department of Physics, via 'Newsweek'.