Earth to be hit by solar storm after huge hole opens up in the sun
Another coronal hole has opened up in the sun, blasting out gases expected to hit Earth on Thursday and Friday. The solar storm will be the second in a week, after the solar wind from a hole “thirty times the size of Earth” ignited the Aurora Australis last Friday, creating a dazzling light show seen from Tasmania and southern locations across the mainland. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: The southern lights shine bright over Perth, leaving stargazers amazed. Watch the latest News on Channel 7 or stream for free on 7plus >> The new hole discovered on Tuesday is slightly smaller than the last, but still spans “20 times the size of Earth”, with winds of up to 2.9 million km/h heading towards us. However, only “Arctic auroras are likely when the solar wind arrives,” according to Live Science. Solar storms affect the Earth’s magnetic field and have the ability to disrupt GPS and radio signals, prompting fears of major blackouts. University of Newcastle physicist and solar expert Dr Hannah...