Our Active Sun | Space Wallpaper

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our active sun
The magnetic field of the sun reaches for the Earth through this large coronal hole in March of 2016. (Image credit: NASA/GSFC/Solar Dynamics Observatory)

Briefly in March of 2016, a long coronal hole looked on Earth. These features emerge when the solar magnetic field reaches up and out into the cosmos. The effect — solar winds carrying solar material mix with Earth's magnetic field creating a geomagnetic storm. Results of this storm include satellite exposure to radiation (causing communications interference) as well as possible gorgeous auroral displays. [Learn more about the sun.]

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Space.com Staff
Space.com Staff
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Space.com is the premier source of space exploration, innovation and astronomy news, chronicling (and celebrating) humanity's ongoing expansion across the final frontier. Originally founded in 1999, Space.com is, and always has been, the passion of writers and editors who are space fans and also trained journalists. Our current news team consists of Editor-in-Chief Tariq Malik; Editor Hanneke Weitering, Senior Space Writer Mike Wall; Senior Writer Meghan Bartels; Senior Writer Chelsea Gohd, Senior Writer Tereza Pultarova and Staff Writer Alexander Cox, focusing on e-commerce. Senior Producer Steve Spaleta oversees our space videos, with Diana Whitcroft as our Social Media Editor.