In October, scientists revised their solar cycle forecasts and now predict that the explosive peak could begin in early 2024. The recent surge in solar activity is likely a sign that we are right on the cusp of solar maximum. 28, an "almost X-class" solar flare shot out of the sun and birthed a cannibal CME that hit Earth and triggered a geomagnetic storm, which lit up lower latitudes with auroras over the weekend. 25, an explosive " canyon of fire" eruption near the sun's equator released a coronal mass ejection (CME) - a fast-moving cloud of magnetized plasma - that later slammed into Earth and triggered rare orange auroras. 18, a gigantic "sunspot archipelago" made up of at least five different sunspot groups emerged on the sun's near side and has since spat out dozens of solar storms into space. 1st solar eruption to simultaneously impact Earth, moon and Mars shows dangers of space radiation 'Potentially catastrophic' solar storm identified in ancient tree rings Studying space weather can help address space debris. However, over the last few weeks, there have been numerous other signs that the sun is getting more active. It is, therefore, a mystery how such a massive hole opened up near the equator when we are so close to the solar maximum. S10 Hole Punch Wallpaper, Starry Sky, Punch Hole Wallpaper'> Get Wallpaper. 1440x3040 Starry Sky 2 By SpicyIcarus Galaxy S10 Hole Punch Wallpaper. When they do emerge during solar maximum, they are normally located near the sun's poles and not near the equator. 1920x1080 3D space black hole amazing HD wallpaper'> Get Wallpaper. However, in a bizarre twist, the gigantic new coronal hole is not supposed to be part of this increase in solar activity.Ĭoronal holes can occur at any point throughout the solar cycle, but they are actually more common during solar minimum, according to NOAA. Solar activity has been ramping up all year as the sun nears the explosive peak in its roughly 11-year solar cycle, known as the solar maximum. The last coronal hole to appear on the sun, which emerged in March, spat out the most powerful geomagnetic storm to hit Earth in more than six years. The radiation streams from coronal holes are much faster than normal solar wind and often trigger disturbances in Earth's magnetic shield, known as geomagnetic storms, according to NOAA. This is similar to why sunspots appear to be black - but unlike sunspots, coronal holes are not visible unless they are viewed in ultraviolet light. Coronal holes appear as dark patches because they are cooler and less dense than the surrounding plasma. (Image credit: NASA/SDO/AIA)Ĭoronal holes occur when the magnetic fields that hold the sun in place suddenly open up, causing the contents of the sun's upper surface to stream away in the form of solar wind, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The gigantic coronal hole is more than 60 times wider than Earth.
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