The solar minimum between cycles 24 and 25 (the period when the sun is least active) happened in December 2019, when the 13-month smoothed sunspot number fell to 1.8, according to Solar Cycle Prediction panel. We are now in cycle 25.

Solar cycle 24 was average in length, at 11 years, and had the 4th smallest intensity since regular record keeping began with soloar cycle 1 in 1755. It was also the weakest cycle in 100 years. Cycle 24 solar maximimum occurred in April 2014 with sunspot peaking at 114 for the solar cycle, well below the averge, which is 179.

Solar Cycle 24’s progression was unusual. The Sun’s Northern Hemisphere led the sunspot cycle, peaking over 2 years ahead of the Southern Hemisphere sunspot peak. This resulted in solar maximum having fewer sunspots than if the 2 hemispheres were in phase.

The solar cycle maximum for Cycle 25 is expected to peak in July 2025.

 

Diagram below shows the records since 1775, The Sunspot number is calculated by adding 10 times the number of sunsopt regions with the total number of sunspots, which is called the “R” value.

The photo below was taken at 2025 Perihelion 4th January 2025 from our Maculata Observatory, Cambewarra.

 

John Gould

January 2025