Did you know our sun operates on a natural 11 year cycle, alternating between high and low magnetic activity?
In October 2024, U.S space agencies such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced the sun had reached its solar maximum phase and would continue into 2025.
However, has the maximum phase already peaked or will it do so later in the year?
To find out the answer as well as learning from past solar storm activity, 4ZZZ’s Toni Pankaluic spoke with Dr Benjamin Pope, an Associate Professor of Statistical Data Science at Macquarie University to find out more.
For a deep dive...
If you could buy/access a solar telescope equipped with filters during the Solar Maximum 2025, you'll enjoy the sun's beautiful surface features and sunspots. Otherwise during the minimum phase years from now, the sun becomes featureless. Do note, avoid what Galileo once did by using a normal telescope to see the sun... as your eyes will burn!
Image Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Your 11AM Zedlines with Asha and Charlie (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Your 9AM Zedlines with Ava and Dan! (Image via Flickr)

Your 9AM Zedlines with asha and Charlie! (Image via ABC News)

Your 8AM Zedlines with Ava and Dan! (Image via Flickr)

Your 11AM Zedlines with Alec, Stella, and Em

Your 9am zedlines with Vivek, Em and Alec.

Your 8am zedlines with Alec, Vivek, and Stella.

Your 11AM Zedlines with Cass and Lachlan

Your 10AM Zedlines with Hailey and Georgie.

Your 9AM Zedlines with Lachlan and Hailey.

Your 8am Zedlines with Cass and Georgie.

Your 11AM Zedlines with Clem, Zayna and Livinia
Image Credit: Pexels

Your 9AM Zedlines with Clem, Zayna and Livinia
Image: Flickr

Your 8AM Zedlines with Dane, Livinia, Clem
Image: Flickr

Your 11am Zedlines with Niamh, Alannah and Sarah
Image via Wikicommons

Your 10am Zedlines with Sarah, Alannah and Niamh
image via credit: ইব্রাহিম হাসান via wikimedia commons

Your 9am Zedlines with Sarah, Alannah and Niamh
Image via Flickr

Your 8am Zedlines with Sarah Alannah and Niamh
(image via Wikicommons)

Your 11AM Zedlines with Asha and Yuchen (Image via Wikicommons Media)

Your 10AM Zedlines with Charlie, Dan and Ethan (Image via Flickr)

Your 9AM Zedlines with Asha and Yuchen (Image via Flickr)

Your 8AM Zedlines with Charlie, Dan and Ethan (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Your 8am zedlines with Vivek, Sarah, Em and Alec.

Your 11AM Zedlines with Georgie and Hailey

Your 10AM Zedlines with Lachlan and Cass

Your 9AM Zedlines with Hailey and Georgie.

Your 8AM Zedlines with Cass and Lachlan

Students at a high school in Brisbane are snubbing the school bus service over concerns of repeated late slips, with parents reporting bus delays as long as 20 minutes.