Butterfly-shaped hole pops up on the Sun

13-Sep-2025

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A striking 5,00,000-kilometre-wide butterfly-shaped hole has appeared in the Sun's atmosphere, according to Nasa's Solar Dynamics Observatory.

The formation was photographed on September 11 and is venting a stream of solar wind in Earth's direction. This remarkable event has drawn attention for its unusual shape and potential to influence space weather.

This opening in the Sun's outer layers is known as a "coronal hole". In these regions, the Sun's magnetic fields open up, allowing solar wind to escape into space. Coronal holes appear dark in telescope images because the hot plasma that usually fills the area is missing.

The butterfly-shaped gap is significant due to its scale, spanning approximately 5,00,000 kilometres across. Its distinctiveness and vastness distinguish it among recent solar phenomena observed by scientists.