Second ‘giant hole’ about 20 times larger than Earth rips through the Sun

A giant 'hole', known as a coronal hole, has appeared on the surface of the Sun, and it could send 1.8 million-mph solar winds toward Earth by Friday.

Photo: NASA

It follows the discovery of a bigger coronal hole on the Sun, 30 times the size of Earth. As this first 'hole' begins rotating away from us, a new giant coronal hole, about 18 to 20 Earths across, has come into view.

Photo: NASA

But, what is a coronal hole? Well, the sun is made of plasma that creates a magnetic field as it  churns around in a system known as the “solar dynamo”.

Sometimes, those magnetic fields shoot out from the outer atmosphere of the sun (AKA the corona) into space, and bits of plasma escape with them on solar winds.

This creates areas that are cooler and less dense, appearing to us (or scientists who have the necessary equipment to observe them) as dark spots, or holes.

Infrastructure damage is a  growing concern as the sun’s activity reaches its peak in the course of the magnetic field’s 11-year cycle, though.

Back in 2021, researchers warned that a significant solar storm could cause a worldwide “internet apocalypse”, interfering with satellites, radio signals, and more.

However, this time scientists aren't concerned about this particular hole damaging infrastructure.

However, they say it might trigger auroras in some parts of the world this weekend.

Coronal holes are fairly common, but they usually appear toward the poles of the Sun, where their winds are spewed into space. But as the Sun is gearing up to a peak in activity these holes are more likely to appear near the equator of the Sun, Mathew Owens, a professor of space physics at the University of Reading, said.

Photo: Pixabay / Alexas_Photos

Every 11 years or so, the Sun's magnetic field completely flips. This means that the Sun's north and south poles switch places.

Photo: spaceweatherwoman.com, Tamitha Skov

This recurring rhythm is the solar cycle, in which the Sun shows reduced and increased activity. According to NASA, after reaching the minimum activity in December 2019, the Sun is now again in a phase of increased activity, thus the sunspots and sun storms.

Solar physicist Scott McIntosh told Space.com that solar storms and crashes have been observed in previous solar cycles, always at the 55th parallel.

Photo: Twitter, Scott McIntosh

NASA had predicted quieter activity with a moderate maximum for this cycle. This is better for space travel, satellite use, and power grids and telecoms, as they are less affected by solar storms. NASA expects the solar maximum to be between 2024 and 2026.

How these unexpected solar storms fit into this cycle of low activity and why there was a such a huge breakage of the Sun, remain unclear.

But events like this are also a great opportunity for science. According to a scientist who spoke to CBS News, "We really need to learn more about this big machine of magnetic activity because that's what creates space weather."