A period of increased activity has begun on the Sun: what does this mean and what threatens

NASA announced the beginning of a new period of increased activity of the daylight. Scientists called it “Solar Cycle 25,” writes Air force.

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This is important for terrestrial electronic technology and astronauts in orbit. Humanity will face technical challenges and challenges that need to be prepared for.

Periods of quiet and active Sun alternate approximately every 11 years. This has been known for a long time, but the nature of the phenomenon has not yet been solved. Scientists speak in this regard about “sun weather”.

During turbulent periods, more giant explosions occur on its surface, during which our star, as NASA said, “spits” additional energy, light and matter from the solar corona into space.

Streams of elementary particles can damage astronauts, not covered by the Earth's magnetic field, and disrupt radio communications.

"There's no such thing as bad weather, just bad weather preparation," said Jake Bleacher, NASA's leading human spaceflight scientist. “Space weather exists and that’s it, and it’s our job to take action.”

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The minimum solar activity, usually marking the end of the previous cycle, fell on December 2019. Due to the complexity and unpredictability of processes on the Sun, it took scientists several months to make sure of this completely.

“We are leaving the minimum and entering the period of maximum solar activity, but it is important to remember that it never stops: it only changes its scale like a pendulum,” said Lika Guhatakurta, an expert in the heliophysics department at NASA headquarters.

“We are carefully registering the few and small sunspots that indicate the beginning and development of a new cycle - harbingers of future giant fireworks,” says Frederic Klett, director of the World Center for Long-Term Observations of the Sun. “The identification of a certain trend over several months allows us to say that a new cycle has begun.”

What will the new solar cycle be like?

According to scientists' forecasts, the peak of solar activity will be reached in July 2025.

The current period of the active Sun promises to be quieter than the previous one, which came in the zero years.

“But this does not provide a guarantee against extreme manifestations. The sun has a real impact on our lives, and that impact is here to stay,” says Doug Biesecker, a solar physics expert at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center.

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The United States is preparing for a new period of active Sun like never before. An interdepartmental scientific group has been established to predict solar weather and develop an action plan.

“The National Meteorological Office is preparing the country for any changes in Earth's weather. Now we are moving towards predicting space weather in the same way. There are 24 federal agencies involved in the project,” said Elsayed Talaat, director of the Office of Projects, Planning and Analysis for the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research's Satellite Information Service.

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