Deep-space radiation reaching a percentage point of Space Age maximum

Deep-space radiation reaching a percentage point of Space Age maximum

Solar activity is at very low levels and the visible disk remains spotless for the 17th day in a row, making a total of 33 days in 2020 or 66 percent — we are still in a Solar Minimum, which is expected to end sometime this year. As a result of weakened Sun's…

Unsettled geomagnetic field due to CH HSS influences

Unsettled geomagnetic field due to CH HSS influences

Solar wind parameters in 24 hours ending 12:30 UTC today were indicative of a slightly enhanced and disturbed interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) due to weak coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS) influences. Total IMF strength was variable, but steadily increased…

Solar experts predict below average activity in Solar Cycle 25

Solar experts predict below average activity in Solar Cycle 25

Scientists charged with predicting the Sun’s activity for the next 11-year solar cycle say that it’s likely to be weak, much like the current one – Solar Cycle 24. The current cycle is declining and predicted to reach solar minimum late in 2019 or 2020….

Cosmic rays in Earth’s atmosphere intensifying for the fourth year in a row

Cosmic rays in Earth’s atmosphere intensifying for the fourth year in a row

Cosmic rays in Earth's atmosphere are intensifying for the 4th year in a row as the 11-year solar cycle plunges into one of the deepest minima of the Space Age. The finding comes from a campaign of almost weekly high-altitude balloon launches conducted by the…

Study suggests Modern grand solar minimum in 2020 – 2053

Study suggests Modern grand solar minimum in 2020 – 2053

Theoretical astrophysicist Valentina Zharkova, lead author of the study that reproduced the summary curve of solar activity for the last 3 000 years and predicted Modern grand minimum in 2020 – 2055, recently spoke with Jake and Mari of The Grand Solar Minimum…

Solar activity cycle falls to the bottom 1.5 years earlier than expected

Solar activity cycle falls to the bottom 1.5 years earlier than expected

According to the Laboratory for X-ray Solar Astronomy of the PN Lebedev Physical Institute in Russia, the solar activity cycle has, by all indications, practically reached its minimum 1.5 years ahead of expected time. Given that the previous solar maximum in 2012…

Filament eruption, spotless Sun, Total Solar Irradiance and cosmic radiation

Filament eruption, spotless Sun, Total Solar Irradiance and cosmic radiation

A 13-degree long plasma filament eruption was observed in SDO/AIA 304 imagery starting at 12:29 UTC on December 15, 2017. A glancing blow is expected late December 19, in combination with a recurrent, positive polarity CH HSS. Meanwhile, solar activity is at very…