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The Sun over one solar cycle

Activity levels have slowly declined since then, but we haven't reached solar minimum yet, despite passing 11.1 years since the last minimum - the average length of a solar cycle.  
 

	Sun over an entire cycle

One way of measuring the solar cycle, is to observe sunspots on the Sun. Sunspots are areas of very high magnetic fields on the Sun’s surface, their numbers vary with the cycle. The sunspot cycles measured since the mid-18th century vary in length from 9.0 to 13.5 years.

While a team of experts has attempted to predict when the next solar minimum will be, we won't really know until we get there. In fact, the experts were sharply divided about the time of the next minimum and the intensity of the next maximum, which should arrive at about 2012 or 2013.

Whenever the next cycle begins, SOHO will be there to observe it.
 
 

Sun over an entire cycle

Notes for editors:
 
The official NOAA, NASA, and ISES Solar Cycle 24 prediction was released by the Solar Cycle 24 Prediction Panel on April 25, 2007. The prediction panel consisted of a team of international experts.
 
 

	Sun over an entire cycle

The Sun, at a wavelength of 19.5 nanometres, shown in green.
 
 

Sun over an entire cycle

The Sun, seen at 28.4 nanometres, shown in yellow.