Compare these images of the Sun at solar minimum and solar maximum.
What kind of activity would you expect at solar minimum versus solar maximum?
Compare these images of the Sun at solar minimum and solar maximum.
What kind of activity would you expect at solar minimum versus solar maximum?
Scientists have been recording the number of sunspots since the mid 1700s! Consider this graph of sunspots since 1900:
Based on this data, how long would estimate each solar cycle lasts?
Examine the sunspot data from since 2000:
Use the graph to estimate the following:
When was the last solar maximum?
When was the last solar minimum?
When do you think the next solar maximum will be?
When do you think the next solar minimum will be?
Explore the interactive above.
Describe 2 ways space weather can affect human activity.
What is the solar cycle?
What do scientists use to track sunspots?
When do sunspots typically peak during the solar cycle?
Which region of the Sun rotates fastest?
What happens to the Sun's magnetic field at the peak of the solar cycle?
What do scientists look for to declare a new solar cycle?
What can strong magnetic fields at the Sun's poles indicate?
