It's Aurora Season!

Image Credit:  SOHO

This picture of the sun was taken by the SOHO space observatory and shows what is known as a "Coronal Hole".  Basically, it's an area where the magnetic field doesn't loop back into the sun but extends out into space along with the solar wind continually streaming from the sun.  This process allows charge particles to escape and travel with the stream.  Why is this important?  Well when these particles reach Earth's magnetic field there's an interplay that may result in a show of the Northern Lights.  If you have a chance tonight and tomorrow night take a look outside around midnight.  If you are looking northward and have dark skies you might just be rewarded with nature's light show.