NASA images of a butterfly-shaped coronal hole — first seen in September and captured by the Solar Dynamics Observatory — have gone viral because their wing-like appearance is so striking. The hole spans nearly 300,000 miles (over 30 times Earth's diameter) and represents an area where fast solar wind escapes. When such holes face Earth they can enhance auroras in northern regions, though the Sun itself is behaving normally. The image gained attention mainly for its familiar shape and sparked a mix of jokes and concern online.
NASA Photos of a Butterfly-Shaped Coronal Hole Spark Viral Buzz — What It Means for Earth
NASA images of a butterfly-shaped coronal hole — first seen in September and captured by the Solar Dynamics Observatory — have gone viral because their wing-like appearance is so striking. The hole spans nearly 300,000 miles (over 30 times Earth's diameter) and represents an area where fast solar wind escapes. When such holes face Earth they can enhance auroras in northern regions, though the Sun itself is behaving normally. The image gained attention mainly for its familiar shape and sparked a mix of jokes and concern online.
10:03 AM, 11/14/2025Science
Butterfly-shaped coronal hole draws attention
What was seen: NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured a striking coronal hole on the Sun that resembles a butterfly, a pattern that has been widely shared on social media. The feature stretches nearly 300,000 miles across — more than thirty times the diameter of Earth — and was first noted by scientists in September.
What coronal holes are
Coronal holes are common solar features where the Sun's magnetic field opens outward, allowing streams of high-speed charged particles (the solar wind) to escape into space. When a coronal hole rotates into alignment with Earth, those fast streams can interact with Earth's magnetic field and enhance geomagnetic activity, producing brighter-than-usual auroras at high latitudes.
Where auroras might be visible
Alaska and much of northern Canada were best positioned to see brighter displays during the recent event. The farther south you are, the lower the odds, although locations such as Michigan's Upper Peninsula and parts of northern New England have occasionally seen surprises during similar events. Recent solar activity and flares have even sent auroras as far south as Florida.
Social media reaction
Images of the large opening went viral and provoked a mix of responses, ranging from humorous to anxious. Examples include playful takes like:
"Stranger Things promotion is getting out of hand — they opened the Upside Down there."and
"Now that's what I call a butterfly effect."Others voiced concern:
"Why doesn't this sound apocalyptic enough?"Some users replied with local humor or sarcasm:
"Don't worry down here in San Mo — we got our own Sun God, he'll clutch up."and
"This happened 10 million light years ago btw."(That last comment is a joke; coronal holes are solar phenomena, not events separated by extragalactic light-travel times.)
The bottom line
There is nothing unusually dangerous happening with the Sun. Coronal holes form, move across the solar surface as the Sun rotates, and fade as new ones appear. This one is notable mainly because its shape looks familiarly like a butterfly — a rare, eye-catching pattern on our star.
Sources: NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory, AccuWeather; original coverage aggregated on GEEKSPIN.