One way to track the solar cycle is by counting the number of sunspots, which are dark, cooler patches on the Sun’s surface.

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. These processes follow the solar cycle, an 11-year cycle of increasing and decreasing activity on ...

We know that the sun has entered its peak phase of activity, called solar maximum. But are we still in it, or is solar maximum already behind us? Let's see what the data has to say. However, the ...

Scientists have known this solar minimum was coming because it's a regular aspect of the sun's cycle. Sunspots were peaking in 2014, with low points beginning in 2019, according to NASA. The sun is ...

Solar cycles, characterized by fluctuating sunspot activity, occur approximately every 11 years, although their duration varies between 8 and 14 years. The study of solar cycles dates back to the ...

A single patch on the Sun recently stayed hyperactive for 94 straight days, hurling flare after flare into space and setting ...

Auroras aren't over: the sun's decline brings more storms, and a 'last gasp' finale could light up skies in the next 2 years. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate ...

The colossal ball of hot gas at the center of our solar system will be lively for the next year, NASA said. The sun has reached its "solar maximum period," which is a state of heightened activity in ...