BIG CORONAL HOLE

SDO/AIA 171/193/211

SDO/AIA 211

A large hole in the sun's atmosphere is rotating into view over the sun's northeastern limb. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory photographed the structure on Nov. 18th.

This is a "coronal hole"--a region in the sun's atmosphere where the magnetic field peels back and allows solar wind to escape. It is too soon to say whether the emerging stream of solar wind will hit Earth head on when it reaches our planet next week. We will know more in the days ahead as the hole turns toward us to reveal its full dimensions and internal structure. http://spaceweather.com/

Clips credit: NASA/SDO http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/