Solar Activity
The Sun's current face, and where we sit in its 11-year cycle.
Continuum · visible light
Active regions and sunspots on the photosphere
He II · chromosphere
Filaments, prominences and coronal holes (75 MK)
Fe VIII/XXI · flare plasma
High-energy flare and eruptive plasma (10 MK)
About the solar cycle
The Sun follows a periodic 11-year cycle driven by its internal magnetic field, which completely flips orientation once per decade. The progression is most visibly tracked by sunspot number — dark, cooler regions of intense magnetic activity. During solar minimum very few sunspots appear; solar maximum brings a high concentration, often with more frequent flares. A more active Sun releases a more turbulent stream of particles, which is what ties this cycle to everything else on this dashboard.