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Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory: Huge coronal hole has occured in the Sun

30 May 2013 15:30 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Kamala Guliyeva – APA. “2013 is the year of "solar maximum," the peak of the 11-year sunspot cycle. Four X-class flares (largest class) blasted out at the Sun's edge in two days (May 13-15, 2013). However, coronal mass ejections from the flares were not Earth-directed. Coronal hole with open configuration of the magnetic field has occurred in the Sun,” chief of the Sun and solar-terrestrial relationship Department of Shamakhi-based Tusi Astrophysical Observatory of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) Namig Jalilov told APA.

He said that the coronal holes are frequently accompanied by massive clouds of high energy plasma launched into space: “However the exact date of such massive clouds is unknown. Coronal mass ejection shakes the Earth's magnetic field. This phenomenon is difficult to be forecasted. Currently this coronal hole is in the solar disk. Massive clouds of high energy plasma within 3 days may be Earth-directed. Next flares would not be Earth-directed.”

Jalilov said there are three large sunspots. Solar activity will last till the end of 2013. The sun could be heading into a more-dormant period, with activity during the next 11-year sunspot cycle greatly reduced or even eliminated.