NASA says the total solar eclipse on April 8 is happening during a time called 'solar maximum.' This means there's a higher chance of a 'solar eruption' occurring.
On Monday, April 8, we'll witness an amazing event called a total solar eclipse. This happens when the Moon completely covers the Sun, unlike a partial solar eclipse where only part of it is covered. NASA released a video on Friday explaining that this eclipse is happening during a time called 'solar maximum,' which makes a 'solar eruption' more likely.
According to a report from Live Science, the Sun has been very active in the last two months. There have been big sunspots, lots of powerful solar flares called X-class flares, and huge plasma plumes seen.
Also, on March 23, Earth experienced a big geomagnetic storm, the strongest in over six years. This happened when a big cloud of plasma and radiation, called a coronal mass ejection (CME), hit our planet.
What is Solar Maximum?
NASA explains that the Sun goes through different phases of activity called the solar cycle, which lasts about 11 years. During this cycle, the Sun's magnetic poles switch, causing changes in its outer layers, like the photosphere, chromosphere, and corona.
When the Sun is at its busiest phase, known as 'solar maximum,' there's a lot more solar storms happening. This means more sunspots, solar flares, and big bursts of solar material called coronal mass ejections.
The experts in the Solar Cycle 25 Prediction Panel, which is supported by NASA and NOAA, say that the current solar cycle, called Solar Cycle 25, started in December 2019, during the quiet phase called solar minimum.
Some scientists think that the solar maximum might have started about a year earlier than expected, but we'll only know for sure after it's over.
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