Massive hole on Sun: How can it affect Earth?

[{"selector":"#anim-376fa375-048e-491c-8853-2276b3e913be [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-28.74791653671394%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-78293bd9-32e6-4bf0-916e-24d806544f8a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2783eca6-a205-4658-a74c-13dd69d67f0b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 213.56201%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] We are about to be hit by several blows that come from the Sun.

[{"selector":"#anim-5a5ddea2-f2fb-446f-8d0a-9c133c2ce8e5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ef561f6e-9f0e-482c-afbe-66be6cac1d13","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 213.56201%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6da7ad92-1897-40ae-9cdf-6df3bd98db43 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-61.28515632341214%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Two solar events are the cause of the geomagnetic disruptions.

[{"selector":"#anim-9e32c480-3304-491c-a277-d24670993f97","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e3387e34-05cc-4e49-80c0-022f944b0eaf","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 169.65019%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eb670e1e-713c-4e46-adf2-5dfc6a5667ac [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(56.760000045134184%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] The Sun has a large coronal hole in its atmosphere that is releasing a fast-moving stream of solar wind that is headed straight for Earth.

[{"selector":"#anim-c631fb8e-6be3-4c05-9e35-cacc0f05e2ab","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c3312e7a-cc5f-4ffa-8e48-7737ec8ccd27","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 178.90944%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8f76b4fc-3ddb-4d65-a280-07d86bc45e82 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-62.498380330120995%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] This phenomenon, which was photographed by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory

[{"selector":"#anim-0a2ad3fc-80d7-400c-9329-336ae4493592","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d0bd4636-370d-4e79-8da9-35b619e899c2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 174.27982%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1d320caf-07a7-4887-abb6-90580e482926 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-8.250000054975718%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] It shows a nearly 800,000-kilometer-long chasm of darkness spanning the surface of the Sun.

[{"selector":"#anim-0d5e5a30-effc-4ee9-8b44-a63fbc387543","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d58f8aaf-85d4-46dd-a3d6-9879f85efa13","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.42799%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b54e3d0f-8933-41b4-b34e-57104262b490 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-65.06859384673437%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Coronal holes are places in space where the magnetic field of the Sun opens up, letting more solar wind escape.

[{"selector":"#anim-ee2d088e-00d7-4385-91ad-2c1cc515786c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9098d965-6f4d-407f-be3d-958b37dc6f39","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 165.52932%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-085422f1-fc52-4488-9fd1-13d99e1b17f2 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-36.10336530084645%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Adding to the cosmic drama, an off-target Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) is projected to deliver a glancing blow to our planet on December 5.

[{"selector":"#anim-594aa1d1-eed9-4cc2-85ae-04bf6166fa2c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9ab77287-59a2-461c-94c7-83344f0d4a64","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 161.59232%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8004d180-5b1e-4e4c-ac68-f032f5707735 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-48.87499999638199%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Adding to the cosmic drama, an off-target Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) is projected to deliver a glancing blow to our planet on December 5.

[{"selector":"#anim-27af6901-03b1-4931-868f-3154a8c68d91 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-28.74791653671394%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0e398319-96c4-4571-a54b-4fc66d005d16","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9f6bc218-c5eb-4875-907a-be93b1feeb1f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 179.83535%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] While this particular CME is not headed directly for Earth, its peripheral effects could still amplify the impact of the incoming solar wind.