The Solar Cycle 25!

Solar activity continues to intensify as we continue towards the Solar Maximum. Which means there’s more good news for you…

In August, the average monthly sunspot number exceeded 200 for the first time in 23 years, doubling the official forecast.

Sunspots are dark, planet-size regions of strong magnetic fields on the surface of the sun. They can spawn eruptive disturbances such as solar flares and of course CMEs.

The current solar cycle (Solar Cycle 25) wasn’t expected to be this strong. When it began in Dec. 2019, experts predicted it would be weak like its immediate predecessor Solar Cycle 24. Instead, Solar Cycle 25 may be on pace to rival some of the stronger cycles of the 20th century. Already in May 2024 we experienced a century-class geomagnetic storm with auroras sighted in the South Pacific, central America and South Africa.

The last time sunspot counts were this high, in Sept.-Dec. 2001, the sun was winding up to launch the Great Halloween Storms of ’03, which included the strongest X-ray solar flare ever recorded and a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) so strong it was felt at the edge of the solar system. A repeat is not guaranteed, but current sunspot counts tell us it’s possible…

Above: A composite view of sunspots in Aug. 2024. Credit: Senol Sanli

After the strongest solar storm since 2003 hit us in May and this exciting news about Solar Cycle 25, it seems all anybody is focused on is if and when we’ll be able to see the Northern lights again!

With holidays all over Finland, Sweden, Iceland and Norway there are so many amazing opportunities for you to join us and search for the Northern Lights!

Follow the link here to discover our holidays and find the perfect itinerary for you.

Don’t forget to take a look at our social media pages to see what our guests have experienced in The Aurora Zone.

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