Solar maximum

For the spacecraft, see Solar Maximum Mission

Three recent solar cycles

Solar maximum or solar max is the period of greatest solar activity in the solar cycle of the Sun. During solar maximam, large numbers of sunspots appear.

A solar maximum is the period when the Sun's magnetic field lines are the most distorted due to the magnetic field on the solar equator rotating at a slightly faster pace than at the solar poles.^{[citation needed]} The solar cycle takes an average of about 11 years to go from one solar maximum to the next, with an observed variation in duration of 9 to 14 years for any given solar cycle.

Large solar flares often occur during a maximum. For example, the Solar storm of 1859 struck the Earth with such intensity that the northern lights could be seen as far south as Rome, approximately 42° north of the equator.

Predictions

The last solar maximum was in 2000. Predictions of a future maximum's timing and strength are very difficult. In 2006 NASA initially expected a solar maximum in 2010 or 2011, and thought that it could be the strongest since 1958. However, more recent projections say the maximum should arrive in February 2013 and be one of the weakest since 1928.

Film

There is an IMAX documentary about solar maxima called Solarmax.

See also

• Solar wind
• Solar variation
• Solar minimum
• List of solar cycles – table of solar cycles
• Solar Maximum Mission