Did you know our sun operates on a natural 11 year cycle, alternating between high and low magnetic activity?
In October 2024, U.S space agencies such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced the sun had reached its solar maximum phase and would continue into 2025.
However, has the maximum phase already peaked or will it do so later in the year?
To find out the answer as well as learning from past solar storm activity, 4ZZZ’s Toni Pankaluic spoke with Dr Benjamin Pope, an Associate Professor of Statistical Data Science at Macquarie University to find out more.
For a deep dive...
If you could buy/access a solar telescope equipped with filters during the Solar Maximum 2025, you'll enjoy the sun's beautiful surface features and sunspots. Otherwise during the minimum phase years from now, the sun becomes featureless. Do note, avoid what Galileo once did by using a normal telescope to see the sun... as your eyes will burn!
Image Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Your 11am Zedlines with Megan, Anastasia, and Sydney

Your 10AM Zedlines with Mario and Aliyah

Your 9am Zedlines with Sydney, Meghan and Anastasia

Your 8am Zedlines with Mario and Aliyah

Your final 11AM Zedlines with the Summer 2026 Friday Zedliners, read by Ava, Ethan and Yuchen (Image via Wikimedia Commons)!

Your 10AM Zedlines with Asha, Dan and Charlie (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Your 9AM Zedlines with Ava, Ethan and Yuchen (Image via Pexels).

Your 8AM Zedlines with Asha, Charlie and Dan (Image via Flickr).

Your 10AM Zedlines with Sarah, Vivek, Eden and HG
IMG: From wikimedia under CC3.0

Your 9AM Zedlines with Alec, Stella, Em, and Vivek
IMG: From wikimedia under CC4.0

Your 8AM Zedlines with Sarah, Stella, Alec, and Em
IMG: Supplied

Your 11AM Zedlines with Georgia and Cass

Your 10AM Zedlines with Cass and Lachlan

Your 9AM Zedlines with Cass and Georgie

Your 8AM Zedlines with Georgie and Lachlan.

Your 11AM Zedlines with Clementine and Livinia

Your 10AM Zedlines with Clementine and Livinia

Your 8AM Zedlines with Clementine and Livinia

Your 11AM Zedlines with Ava, Charlie and Yuchen! (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Your 10AM Zedlines with Asha, Dan and Ethan! (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Your 9AM Zedlines with Ava, Charlie and Yuchen! (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Your 8AM Zedlines with Asha, Dan and Ethan! (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Your 11AM Zedlines with Eden and Alec
IMG: From r/Brisbane from u/Dense_Passenger4174

Your 10AM Zedlines with Vivek and Eden
IMG: From wikimedia under CC4.0

Your 9AM Zedlines with Alec and Eden
IMG: From Pauline Hanson on X

Your 8AM Zedlines with Alec and Vivek
IMG: From wikimedia commons under CC3.0

Your 11AM Zedlines with Georgie, Lachlan, and Hailey

Your 10AM Zedlines with Georgie and Hailey