Coronal Holes

Coronal holes are areas on the Sun’s surface where the solar magnetic field opens into space, allowing charged particles—mainly electrons and protons—to escape more freely. These regions appear darker in solar images because they are cooler and less dense than surrounding areas. The fast-moving particles emitted from coronal holes contribute to solar wind streams that can impact Earth's magnetic environment, often causing phenomena like auroras. Coronal holes are more common during the solar maximum and are key to understanding space weather and how solar activity influences our planet.