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Giant hole on the sun could effect Earth TOMORROW

Despite being 149668992 km’s away, a hole on the sun’s surface could impact Earth TOMORROW. Here are the details…

Giant hole on the sun could wreak HAVOC on Earth TOMORROW Photo: NASA/Stock

By: Corné van Zyl

A hole on the sun’s surface could wreak havoc on Earth TOMORROW.

THE GIANT HOLE COULD WREAK HAVOC TOMORROW

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory has released a photo showing a triangular-shaped dark gap in the sun’s surface that’s 20 times larger than Earth.

ALSO READ:WATCH: Huge chunk of SUN has broken off- scientists left baffled

THIS ENORMOUS HOLE IS KNOWN AS A CORONAL HOLE

According to a report by The Daily Mail UK, this enormous hole, known as a coronal hole, has unleashed 1.8-million-mile-per-hour solar winds toward our planet, which will impact us on Friday.

ALSO READ: WATCH: It’s a bird… It’s a plane… No, it’s a Bolide! [Video]

Giant hole on the sun could wreak HAVOC on Earth TOMORROW Photo: NASA/SDO/AIA

THIS GIANT HOLE HAS RELEASED 800 KM/S SOLAR WINDS

“Coronal holes – a common occurrence on the sun – are areas of an open magnetic field from which high-speed solar wind rushes out into space.

“Although causing beautiful natural light displays called auroras in the sky, solar winds can also disrupt satellites in space, power grids, and GPS navigation systems.”

NASA

ALSO READ: WATCH: Astronomer catches METEORITE smashing into the moon

WHY ARE CORONAL HOLES A CONCERN?

According to NASA, the gaping ‘coronal hole’ is unleashing 1.8-million-mile-per-hour solar winds toward our planet, which will impact us on Friday.

  • Coronal holes are areas of the Sun’s surface that are the source of open magnetic field lines that head way out into space.
  • They are also the source regions of the fast solar wind, which is characterized by a relatively steady speed of approximately 800 km/s.
  • As the sun continues to rotate, the high speed solar wind particles blowing from this hole will likely reach Earth in a few days and may spark some auroral activity.

The sun continually releases hot gases from its surface, a steady stream of particles – mostly protons and electrons – known as the solar wind.

The report also states that this leaves an open channel out of which the solar wind can blast unobstructed.

A solar wind usually leaves the sun at speeds of around 1448409.6 kilometers per hour, but solar wind leaving through the centre of a coronal hole travels much faster, up to 800 km/s.

ALSO READ: Solar storm forecast to hit Earth on WEDNESDAY – here is what you need to know

WHAT ARE CORONAL HOLES?

Coronal holes are regions of open magnetic fields that appear as dark areas in the corona – the outermost part of the sun’s atmosphere.

The South African

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