A giant fissure has opened across the sun and is spewing rapid solar winds toward our planet. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory got wind of the massive hole Friday morning.

—

This coronal hole is a vast region where the sun’s magnetic field tears apart, allowing solar wind to escape. Super-charged solar winds flowing from the sun’s atmosphere are expected to reach Earth on April 23 or 24. According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, this could whip up a “moderately strong” geomagnetic storm.

These kinds of storms are behind the beautiful natural phenomenon the Northern Lights. But a storm of this magnitude could have an effect on power grids and navigation systems across …