The current solar cycle is far more active than predicted
Things are heating up on the Sun as the number of sunspots hit a nine-year high in January 2023, with a total recorded number of 144. Solar activity is currently building and expected to peak in late 2024 or 2025, as part of the current solar cycle, the Sun’s 11-year pattern of rising and falling solar magnetic activity that sees sunspot numbers correspondingly increase and decline. The last time such a large number of sunspots was seen was in February 2014, the previous cycle’s peak.
Activity has been steadily declining over the last few cycles, and this solar cycle, number 25, was forecast to be equally low. The unexpectedly high activity also corresponds to an increase in the number of solar flares and other space weather, which has already resulted in a rare sighting of aurora as far south as Cornwall on 26 February, and may mean even more spectacular displays could be on their way.