Major Hole in Our Sun

These holes tend to occur at solar maximums, and we are not meant to have the next maximum until 2012/2013. So either this is just unusual timing for a coronal hole, or the maximum has arrived far sooner than predicted. If it is the former, then hold on to your hats, a CME might be heading our way (the NOAA says there is a “slight chance for a C-class flare” in the next 3 days). Last time, in 2003, a coronal hole was followed five days later by a deadly earthquake in Algeria. If it is the later, then the biggest concern is that the USA has not upgraded their electrical system yet.
Here’s a NASA image of the hole – it looks worrisome, but apparantly is quite normal, as you can see from the second image which is from the 2003 hole.