A massive 500,000-mile-wide (800,000-kilometer) coronal hole in the sun's atmosphere is unleashing a stream of fast-moving solar wind toward Earth, potentially supercharging auroras on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.

Coronal holes are areas where the sun’s magnetic field opens up, allowing solar wind to flow freely into space, according to SpaceWeather.com. In ultraviolet images, these regions appear darker because they lack the hot, glowing gases usually confined by magnetic fields, as the plasma escapes outward instead.

The solar wind escaping from this coronal hole — the diameter of which measures over 62 times that of the diameter of Earth — is moving at speeds of more than 310 miles per second (500 kilometers per second). This flow is expected to reach Earth by Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, where it could spark minor (G1) geomagnetic storm conditions. While these storms are not severe, they can intensify auroral displays, creating vibrant northern and southern lights at higher latitudes. For an up-to-date breakdown of geomagnetic activity over the next 3 days, check out NOAA's SWPC 3-day forecast. NOAA classifies geomagnetic storms using a G-scale, which ranks their intensity from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme). The recent geomagnetic storm watch NOAA issued is rated as a G1.

Auroras occur when solar wind interacts with Earth's magnetic field. The charged particles from the sun collide with gases in the upper atmosphere, such as oxygen and nitrogen, transferring energy to them. This energy is released as light, producing the colorful displays seen in the night sky. The stronger the solar wind, the more dynamic and widespread the auroras can become.