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For most of human history, the Sun appeared stable. It was a stoic stellar presence, going about its business fusing hydrogen into helium beyond our awareness and helping Earth remain habitable. But in our modern technological age, that facade fell away. <\/p>\n
We now know that the Sun is governed by its powerful magnetic fields, and as these fields cycle through their changes, the Sun becomes more active. Right now, according to NASA, the Sun is at its solar maximum, a time of increased activity.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Solar Maximum means pretty much what it sounds like. In this phase of the cycle, our star is exhibiting maximum activity. The Sun\u2019s intense magnetic fields produce more sunspots and solar flares than at any other time in its 11-year cycle. <\/p>\n The Solar Maximum is all based on the Sun\u2019s magnetic fields. These fields are measured in Gauss units, which describe magnetic flux density. The Sun\u2019s poles measure about 1 to 2 gauss, but sunspots are much higher at about 3,000 gauss. (Earth is only 0.25 to 0.65 gauss at its surface.) Since the magnetic field is so much stronger where sunspots appear, they inhibit convective heating from deeper inside the Sun. As a result, sunspots appear as dark patches.<\/p>\n Sunspots are visual indicators of the Sun\u2019s 11-year cycle. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and an international group called the Solar Cycle Prediction Panel watch sunspots to understand where the Sun is at in its cycle. <\/p>\n \u201cDuring solar maximum, the number of sunspots, and therefore, the amount of solar activity, increases,\u201d said Jamie Favors, director of the Space Weather Program at NASA Headquarters in Washington. \u201cThis increase in activity provides an exciting opportunity to learn about our closest star \u2014 but also causes real effects at Earth and throughout our solar system.\u201d<\/p>\n The effects came into focus for many of us recently. In May 2024, the Sun launched multiple CMEs. As the magnetic fields and charged particles reached Earth, they triggered the strongest geomagnetic storm in 200 decades. These created colourful aurorae that were visible much further from the poles than usual. NASA says that these aurorae were likely among the strongest displays in the last 500 years. <\/p>\n \n