Solar Cycle 25 is set to begin between mid-2019 and late 2020.
Powerful eruption from the surface of the sun captured on May 1, 2013. By Joe Kunches April 11 at 10:29 AM The latest 11-year cycle of the sun is almost over and scientists have just released predictions for the next one.
Lisa Upton, a solar physicist with Space Systems Research Corporation and co-chair of the panel issuing predictions, said Cycle 25 should begin between mid-2019 and late 2020 and that it should reach its maximum between 2023 and 2026, when between 95 and 130 sunspots are projected. Average is between 140 and 220 sunspots.
The prediction panel, in future work, will attempt to better understand the strength, timing and location of sunspot formation across the sun’s hemispheres and the likelihood of solar flares and coronal mass ejections. These are blasts of charged particles off the sun which can disrupt satellite and radio communications, and even power grids in extreme cases.
Solar scientists are most concerned about a major eruption from the sun, which could cause substantial damage to electronic communication systems and power grids. History suggests such extreme events are possible.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
L.A. could replace traditional power plants with home solar, experts sayLos Angeles could produce the nation's largest 'virtual power plant' by linking homes equipped with solar panels and batteries, solar industry says.
Read more »
Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Under Armour, Tesla, Lyft, First Solar & moreCheck out the companies making headlines midday Wednesday:
Read more »
A planet in our solar system needs a name -- and you can helpCNN News, delivered. Select from our newsletters below and enter your email to subscribe.
Read more »
After being rocked by Trump tariffs, the solar energy business is bouncing backAfter two years of job losses in the solar industry, a California mandate is welcome and advocates are projecting demand to pick up.
Read more »
White dwarf star with “planet” gives glimpse into our solar system’s demiseOne day our star will run out of fuel and start expanding, engulfing Mercury, Venus and Earth in the process.
Read more »
Metal asteroids with iron volcanoes may have existed when our solar system was first formingScientists think that metallic asteroids began their lives as blobs of molten iron, floating in space.
Read more »
This heavy metal mini planet survived the death of its starIt's a fate that awaits almost all solar systems -- including our own.
Read more »
A solar eclipse will shroud part of the U.S. in darkness for four minutes. Here’s the path it will take.Five years from today, a total solar eclipse will travel from Texas to Maine.
Read more »
There's a minor planet in our solar system that needs a new name—and scientists are asking for your helpThere's a minor planet in our Solar System that needs a new name—and scientists are asking for your help
Read more »