The sun has reached its maximum activity. What does this mean for us?

11 years – this is how long our star’s cycle usually takes, which results from changes in its magnetic field. The change of poles causes greater activity of the Sun, which in turn results in specific phenomena both on its surface and on Earth. Both NOAA, NASA and the Solar Cycle Prediction Panel agreed that we have just reached the maximum of this phenomenon. How will this manifest itself?

Bad and good news

The first sign of the Sun’s greatest activity is the presence of dark spots on its surface. Their number increases during solar maximum. These places can be the source of explosions that throw waves of charged particles into space. They are of great importance for astronauts, satellites and navigation systems in space. On Earth, on the other hand, they can cause problems with the electrical network, but they also cause strong aurora borealis. We could see the effects in Poland many times this year, even with the unaided eye.

According to the website Naukawpolsce.pl, solar cycles have been tracked by astronomers since Galileo first observed sunspots in the 17th century. Interestingly, However, each cycle is slightly different – some of them reach a peak with greater intensity and in a shorter time, and others have smaller but longer-lasting peaks. Also for this reason, experts are currently talking about the maximum of activity, but not the peak of the 25th solar cycle. This certainly means a chance for further nighttime aurora performances, but it may also require preparation for disruptions in the use of electronic equipment.