The Sun is approaching its solar maximum, the apex of its 11-year solar cycle. As it approaches that, as we’ve already seen over the last couple of years, we can expect more and greater activity from our solar system’s center. But that’s the thing, this solar-cycle might be far more intense than anyone expected.
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00:00 The sun is approaching its solar maximum, the apex of its 11-year solar cycle.
00:08 As it approaches that, as we've seen over the last couple of years, we can expect more
00:12 and greater activity from our solar system's center.
00:15 But that's the thing, this solar cycle might be far more intense than anyone expected.
00:20 Just last year a coronal mass ejection from the sun came into contact with our planet.
00:24 While the resulting auroras were especially beautiful, it also increased the air density
00:28 in the upper atmosphere.
00:29 This caused issues with a SpaceX Starlink launch, causing them to lose some 38 of the
00:34 49 satellites they attempted to put into orbit.
00:37 Experts say that the last solar cycle was a relatively weak one, perhaps throwing off
00:41 predictions for this current cycle.
00:43 In fact, this graphic from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows the predicted
00:47 solar activity as a gray curve.
00:49 Meanwhile, the actual activity is graphed in dots, revealing an increasing level of
00:54 activity from the sun.
00:55 And we're still years away from the solar maximum in 2025.
00:59 So what's going to happen when the sun reaches its apex?
01:01 Well, we'll just have to wait and see.
01:04 [MUSIC PLAYING]
01:07 (upbeat music)