Science is predicting rough weather aheadas our Sun goes through...

Science is predicting rough weather ahead
as our Sun goes through a "SolarMax" period,
peaking in 2025.

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/05/18/world/esa-solar-orbiter-hedgehog-new-images-scn/index.html

These solar images are stunning. They also tell us new things about the sun 03:13

Sign up for CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more.

(CNN)The Solar Orbiter mission's first close pass of the sun in March has revealed our star in a new light.

The spacecraft, which flew by the sun on March 26, has returned a treasure trove of new images and insights after coming within one-third the distance from the sun to the Earth. Solar Orbiter's heat shield reached about 932 degrees Fahrenheit (500 degrees Celsius), but functioned as expected and protected the spacecraft during its historic first flyby.

The sun is getting more active, and Solar Orbiter has been watching its temper tantrums as the sun heads toward solar maximum.

It's important to understand the solar cycle because space weather caused by the sun -- eruptions like solar flares and coronal mass ejection events -- can impact the power grid, satellites, GPS, airlines, rockets and astronauts in space.

Every 11 years, the sun completes a solar cycle of calm and stormy activity and begins a new one. The current solar cycle, Solar Cycle 25, officially began in December 2019, and the next solar maximum, when the sun is experiencing peak activity, is predicted to occur in July 2025.