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A Grand Solar Minimum? Or a normal sun?
A Grand Solar Minimum happens when the peaks of several solar cycles in a row show less than average intensity. Are we in one?
May 2, 2022
What does the sun’s X-ray flux tell us?
Solar physicists often speak of the sun's X-ray flux as being high, or low. Solar flares are like waves on the background ocean of the sun's X-ray flux.
May 1, 2022
Solar filaments, aka prominences, arc upwards
Solar filaments (aka prominences, when viewed on the limb of the sun) are large, bright arcs of solar material and magnetic fields.
March 26, 2022
Solar Orbiter passes historically close to sun on Saturday
Solar Orbiter will make a historically close pass of the sun on March 26, 2022. All 10 of its instruments will be operating to acquire close-up data.
March 26, 2022
Mysterious Maunder Minimum: Nearby star offers clues
We may learn more about the sun's Maunder Minimum - a quiet period of low sunspots in the 1600s and 1700s - thanks to the help of a nearby sun-like star.
March 24, 2022
Solar Cycle 25 starting with a bang!
Solar cycle 25 has already shown itself to be active, with endless sunspots and coronal mass ejections producing solar storms and aurora. Will it stay active?
February 24, 2022
40 Starlink satellites doomed by geomagnetic storm
SpaceX is reporting 40 Starlink satellites doomed to reentry, after a storm on the sun caused a geomagnetic storm that disturbed Earth's magnetic field.
February 9, 2022
Total solar eclipse of December 4, 2021
A total solar eclipse occurs December 4, 2021. The total phase sweeps over Antarctica, while the partial phase reaches southernmost points of three continents.
December 2, 2021
A storm on the sun, and a great week for auroras
Aurora alert in effect for the next few days: the sun sent out a halo coronal mass ejection on November 2, 2021, due to arrive at Earth on November 4.
November 4, 2021
Solar storm and aurora starting October 30
A solar storm after an eruption on the sun is carrying plasma toward Earth, which should produce northern and southern lights this weekend.
October 30, 2021
