Massive Solar Hole Could Intensify Earth's Auroras.

A coronal hole, an opening in the sun's magnetic field, has opened in the sun's upper atmosphere, which could lead to auroral displays as far south as New York and Idaho. The sun has been busy in recent months as it climbs toward an expected 2025 peak of its 11-year activity cycle. Most solar activity is harmless, boosting auroras and causing minor radio blackouts, but strong solar storms can occasionally short out satellites or affect electrical power supplies. NASA and the European Space Agency have launched satellites that swoop close to the sun to examine its corona and structures on the surface to improve space weather forecasts and continue to protect our planet and its environs spacecraft and humans alike.