Nasa image shows Sun ‘smiling’ ahead of Halloween – and it might signal something sinister
NASA boffins were left with grins on their faces after spotting the Sun "smiling" from space.
A photo of the hot star was snapped seeming to show a happy face, with a smile and eyes to boot.
The surprising shot has caught the attention of the world, leading to comparisons with a Halloween pumpkin and even the baby-faced Sun from The Teletubbies.
It was pictured by the space agency's special Sun-researching tech called the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO).
But aside from all the smiles, the photo tells another story.
The holes you see are actually coronal holes.
Read More on The Sun
These are where potentially devastating solars winds burst out.
The massive energy particles that come from them can trigger space weather storms.
These have the power to disrupt things like satellites, communications and power grids by disrupting Earth's magnetic field.
But solar winds aren't all bad.
Most read in Tech
It's these that cause stunning auroras, like the famous Northern Lights.
"Seen in ultraviolet light, these dark patches on the Sun are known as coronal holes which are regions where fast solar wind shoots out into space," Nasa said.
Read more about Nasa
The image comes after experts spotted another strange human-looking feature in space.
A striking shot of the iconic “Pillars of Creation” was released earlier this month, which looked like a creepy hand reaching out.
Best Phone and Gadget tips and hacks
Looking for tips and hacks for your phone? Want to find those secret features within social media apps? We have you covered...
- How to delete your Instagram account
- What does pending mean on Snapchat?
- How to check if you've been blocked on WhatsApp
- How to drop a pin on Google Maps
- How can I change my Facebook password?
- How to go live on TikTok
- How to clear the cache on an iPhone
- What is NFT art?
- What is OnlyFans?
- What does Meta mean?
Get all the latest WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and other tech gadget stories here.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Tech & Science team? Email us at [email protected]