Massive Coronal Hole Detected on Sun's Surface: Potential Impact on Earth

A colossal coronal hole, approximately 18 to 20 times the size of Earth, has recently been spotted on the Sun's surface. This vast opening could release electrically charged particles hurtling towards our planet at an astounding 2.9 million kilometers per hour, with an expected arrival on Friday (31). This discovery follows the identification of another coronal hole, which was 30 times the size of Earth.

As the Sun rotated, the larger hole moved out of sight, unveiling the immense new opening. Mathew Owens, a space physics professor at the University of Reading, notes that this latest hole is situated at the solar equator. "We're essentially guaranteed to witness fast solar wind heading towards Earth within a few days of it rotating away from the central meridian," he explained.

Daniel Verscharen, an associate professor of climate and space physics at University College London, anticipates the particles discharged by the hole to reach Earth later this week. "I foresee the wind from the opening arriving on Earth around Friday night and Saturday morning," he estimated.

Experts believe that the particles released by the newly discovered opening should not trigger intense geomagnetic storms or auroras as vivid as those witnessed last week. "I doubt it will provoke significant disruptions unless there's an Earth-directed coronal mass ejection occurring simultaneously," Owens stated.

Understanding Coronal Holes

Coronal holes originate from the Sun's magnetic fields. Our star, a massive sphere of plasma, produces magnetic fields that are far from tranquil – they fluctuate, collide, and merge. Occasionally, these fields are ejected into space, forming coronal holes.

These holes enable solar wind to "escape" into space, traveling at over 800 km/s. Typically, they appear as cooler, less dense regions compared to the surrounding plasma, which is why they look like dark spots on the solar surface.

Coronal holes can form at any time and location on the Sun but are more prevalent and enduring near solar minimums (the period of lowest solar activity during the Sun's 11-year cycle). The most persistent coronal holes can last for over 20 days.

Source: Business Insider