NASA images of a striking butterfly-shaped coronal hole on the sun have been circulating widely on social media this week, drawing attention to a phenomenon that scientists first observed in September.<\/p>\n
The feature, captured by NASA\u2019s Solar Dynamics Observatory, stretches close to 300,000 miles across, more than thirty times Earth\u2019s width. Images caught people off guard because of the unusual shape: wide, uneven edges spreading out like wings.<\/p>\n
Coronal holes show up often. They are gaps in the sun\u2019s magnetic field where fast streams of particles escape into space. When the September hole faced Earth, it triggered geomagnetic activity that produced brighter aurora in the usual places in the north.<\/p>\n
Alaska and much of northern Canada were set up well for it. The farther south you go, the slimmer the chances get, though the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and parts of northern New England have seen surprises during events like this before.<\/p>\n
Images of the massive opening went viral on social media, sparking a wide range of reactions and speculation about its potential impact on Earth and satellites. The responses ranged from humorous to deeply concerned.<\/p>\n
Many users found comedy in the situation, with one<\/a> joking, \u201cStranger things promotion is getting out of hand, they opened the upside down there,\u201d while another<\/a> quipped, \u201cNow that\u2019s what I call a butterfly effect.\u201d In contrast, others struck a more ominous tone, with one commenter<\/a> asking, \u201cWhy doesn\u2019t this sound apocalyptic enough?\u201d<\/p>\n Another Instagrammer<\/a>\u00a0countered with local reassurance, adding, \u201cDon\u2019t worry down here in San Mo we got our own Sun God he\u2019ll clutch up.\u201d One commenter<\/a> offered their take on the cosmic time scale: \u201cThis happened 10 million light years ago btw.\u201d<\/p>\n Nothing unusual is happening with the sun itself. These holes rotate across the surface from time to time, then fade out as new ones form. The shape is the only reason this one is making the rounds online \u2014 a quick, strange pattern on a star that rarely gives us anything recognizable.<\/p>\n The renewed interest comes as the sun remains active, with major solar flares this week producing auroras as far south as Florida.<\/p>\n Source: AccuWeather<\/a><\/p>\n Read the original article on GEEKSPIN<\/a>.
Affiliate links on GEEKSPIN may earn us and our partners a commission.<\/p>\n