NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) has observed a "dark gash" in the Sun's atmosphere, a massive coronal tear. The dark spot can be seen in this ultra-violet image taken on January 13, 2012.
Coronal holes are places where the Sun's magnetic field opens up and allows the solar wind to escape. This tear is about 75,000 miles wide and over a million miles long.
The solar wind flows from the opening, this dark abyss of the Sun's corona, and will strike Earth on January 16 or 17, 2012, possibly causing auroras for high-latitude skywatchers. (or has already done so.)
Such tears in the Sun's surface can contribute to large solar flares and significant CMEs (Coronal Mass Ejections).
The coronal hole is facing Earth. Solar winds tend to increase in speed under these conditions.
Source: Spaceweather.com
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