First-Hand View of the Solar Maximum

• Václav Šebelík ^[1]
  1. [1] University of South Bohemia

     University of South Bohemia

     Chequia

     
• Localización: The Physics Teacher, ISSN 0031-921X, Vol. 63, Nº. 7, 2025, págs. 576-579
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • The solar cycle, an approximately 11-year period, exhibits fluctuations in solar activity known as the solar minimum and solar maximum.1,2 The difference in the Sun’s appearance in these extremes can be seen in a photomontage shown in Fig. 1(a). It is composed of an image of the Sun in minimum (left part of the photomontage) and maximum (right part of the photomontage) of its activity. During the solar maximum, the Sun’s peak activity is characterized by an increased number of sunspots [Fig. 1(b) 3], coronal loops, prominences, solar flares, and coronal mass ejections (CMEs),4–6 leading to a disordered, brighter appearance on the photomontage. As we experience the ongoing solar maximum in the years 2024 and 2025,7–9 the Sun becomes an intriguing subject not only for scientists but also for physics educators, since it offers a unique opportunity to observe the dynamic nature of our nearest star. Moreover, as will be shown in this article, anyone has free access to data from some solar probes via the JHelioviewer software.