The sun is getting back into the Halloween spirit. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) captured an eerily festive view of our star on October 28, looking like a cosmic pumpkin smiling down at Earth.
That “mouth,” however, is more than just an ornament. It is actually a vast coronal hole, an area in the sunThe surface where the magnetic field opens allows charged particles (solar wind) to flow freely into space. This particular hole is currently spewing a stream of high-speed solar wind towards Landthat could causes minor (G1) to moderate (G2) geomagnetic storm conditions October 28-29, according to space weather forecasters.
If geomagnetic storm conditions intensify, auroras they may extend beyond their usual polar locations, into mid-latitudes. 22 years ago this week, the infamous Halloween storms of 2003 A barrage of powerful solar flares were seen, causing spectacular auroras and disrupting satellites and power systems around the world.
S.D.O. has been observing the sun since 2010, providing continuous high-resolution views that help scientists understand how it drives the sun’s magnetic energy. space weatherwhich in turn affects our lives here on Earth.
This isn’t the first time the observatory has spotted a spooky face on the sun. In 2014, he captured this creepy pumpkin-like smile.
