USEFUL SOLAR AND
SPACE  &  WEATHER LINKS

The solar cycle, also known as the solar magnetic activity cycle, sunspot cycle, or Schwabe cycle, is a nearly periodic 11-year change in the Sun’s activity. This cycle is measured in terms of variations in the number of observed sunspots on the Sun’s surface.

Over the period of a solar cycle, levels of solar radiation and ejection of solar material, the number and size of sunspots, solar flares, and coronal loops all exhibit a synchronized fluctuation from a period of minimum activity to a period of maximum activity and back to a period of minimum activity.

The Sun’s magnetic field goes through a cycle, called the solar cycle. Every 11 years or so, the Sun’s magnetic field completely flips. This means that the Sun’s north and south poles switch places. Then it takes about another 11 years for the Sun’s north and south poles to flip back again.

The beginning of a solar cycle is a solar minimum, or when the Sun has the least sunspots. Over time, solar activity—and the number of sunspots—increases. The middle of the solar cycle is the solar maximum, or when the Sun has the most sunspots. As the cycle ends, it fades back to the solar minimum and then a new cycle begins.

Understanding and predicting the solar cycle remains one of the grand challenges in astrophysics with major ramifications for space science and the understanding of magnetohydrodynamic phenomena elsewhere in the universe.

NOTE: Solar Cycle #25 "Officially began in December, 2019."
My readings show the new cycle could have started later, around
June, 2020, but it's a hard-call to really know when the minima
occurred. However, it's quite obvious now well into 2021 2024, that good things are happening! (See links & charts below...)

SpaceWeatherLive
(Real-time auroral and solar activity)

Spaceweather
(News and information about the Sun-Earth environment)

Space Weather Prediction Center
(NOAA)

SOHO
(Solar and Heliospheric Observatory; Now, 25 years since launch)

Daily Solar-Terrestrial Data from Paul L. Herrman
N0NBH. (Click on either of these two graphs
for links you can add to your own web pages.)

 
 Solar-Terrestrial Data-Current with Conditions

MY SOLAR OBSERVATIONS & CHARTS

BEGINNING 01 DECEMBER 2019

(Note 2022 only 1 day without sunspots...too small to depict on graph)

(Note 2023 no days without sunspots)

(Note 2024 YTD no days without sunspots)

Spotless Days - Historical

Current Stretch: 0 Days
2024 total: 0 days (0%)
2023 total: 0 days (0%)
2022 total: 1 day (<1%)
2021 total: 64 days (18%)
2020 total: 208 days (57%)
2019 total: 281 days (77%)
2018 total: 221 days (61%)
2017 total: 104 days (28%)
2016 total: 32 days (9%)
2015 total: 0 days (0%)
2014 total: 1 day (<1%)
2013 total: 0 days (0%)
2012 total: 0 days (0%)
2011 total: 2 days (<1%)
2010 total: 51 days (14%)
2009 total: 260 days (71%)
2008 total: 268 days (73%)
2007 total: 152 days (42%)
2006 total: 70 days (19%)