NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the International Solar Cycle Prediction Panel announced on October 15, 2024, that the Sun has entered its solar maximum period, which is expected to continue into next year.
The solar maximum occurs roughly every 11 years when the Sun’s magnetic field flips during the peak of its solar cycle. During this period, the Sun transitions from a relatively calm state to a more turbulent one, marked by an increase in sunspots and heightened solar activity.
Elsayed Talaat, director of space weather operations at NOAA, explained that while the Sun has entered the solar maximum period, this does not signify the peak of solar activity. It may take months, or even years before scientists can confirm the peak, as this can only be identified after a consistent decline in solar activity is observed.
For the past two years, the Sun has been in the active phase of its cycle, with a sustained high number of sunspots. According to scientists, the solar maximum phase is expected to last for about another year before transitioning into the declining phase, which will eventually lead back to the solar minimum.
Solar cycles have been tracked since sunspots were first observed by Galileo in the 1600s, with each cycle varying in the duration of its peak. Currently, the Sun is in Solar Cycle 25, and its sunspot activity has slightly exceeded initial expectations.
While a few significant solar storms have been observed so far, none have exceeded the usual expectations for a solar maximum period. The strongest flare of this cycle, classified as an X9.0, occurred on October 3, 2024.
NOAA predicts that additional solar and geomagnetic storms may occur during this solar cycle, providing opportunities to observe auroras over the coming months. However, these storms could also have technological impacts.
Although major storms are less frequent, scientists sometimes observe significant solar events during the declining phase that follows the peak.
References:
1 NASA, NOAA: Sun Reaches Maximum Phase in 11-Year Solar Cycle – NASA – October 15, 2024