RAS scientist explains what to expect from the magnetic storm caused by the largest coronal hole

The largest coronal hole of the year

A coronal hole with a transverse size of about a million kilometers has formed on the Sun — the largest in 2026. This was reported by the laboratory of solar astronomy of the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences; according to their description, the hole visually looks like a 'bottomless chasm' on the Sun, but this is merely an illusion. Visually similar higher-level auroras over Russia against the background of magnetic storms had already been observed earlier, Gazeta.Ru reported.

What scientists forecast

Noticeable magnetic storms are forecast for the night of November 7 — at the moment of Earth's first crossing of the front of a fast plasma stream. After that, Earth may face several days of disturbances, and full stabilization of the magnetic field is possible no earlier than November 13–14, the scientists added.

Should the consequences be feared

There is no need to fear consequences for one's well-being, astrophysicist and scientistSergey Popov, leading researcher at the Sternberg Astronomical Institute and professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences, told 360.ru. According to him, such disturbances usually affect the operation of equipment and satellites, but only to a limited extent, and modern technologies take such risks into account, so their operation, as a rule, does not change. 'Magnetic storms are generally imperceptible to humans and to the biosphere as a whole. For ordinary people it means nothing,' Popov assured. He also noted that the strength of the phenomenon depends on the ejection and Earth's current position.