Discover published sets by community

The solar cycle is the approximately 11-year cycle of solar activity measured in terms of sunspot numbers. In its active phase, it can influence the frequency of solar phenomena like flares and CMEs affecting Earth.

Solar maximum is the period of greatest solar activity in the 11-year solar cycle of the Sun. It is marked by an increase in sunspots and solar phenomena such as flares and CMEs.

Sunspots are temporary phenomena on the Sun's photosphere that appear as spots darker than the surrounding areas. They are concentrations of magnetic activity that can give rise to solar flares and have a minor effect on Earth's climate.

Solar proton events occur when particles (primarily protons) are emitted by the Sun at very high energy. These events can cause radiation hazards for astronauts and damage electronic circuits in satellites.

CMEs are large expulsions of plasma and magnetic field from the Sun's corona. They can cause geomagnetic storms on Earth, affecting electrical grids and satellite operations, and are a major component of space weather.

Solar minimum is the period of least solar activity in the 11-year solar cycle of the Sun. It is characterized by few sunspots and a decrease in solar phenomena like flares and CMEs.

Auroras are natural light displays in the Earth's sky predominantly seen in high-latitude regions. They result from the interaction of solar wind with the Earth's magnetosphere, causing the emission of colorful light.

Solar flares are intense bursts of radiation from the release of magnetic energy associated with sunspots. They can disrupt radio communications and GPS systems on Earth and can pose a threat to astronauts and satellites.

The heliospheric current sheet is a large-scale structure in the solar wind. It results from the influence of the Sun's rotating magnetic field on the plasma in the interplanetary medium.

Solar irradiance is the power per unit area received from the Sun in the form of electromagnetic radiation. Variations in solar irradiance can affect global climate patterns on Earth.

The solar wind is a stream of charged particles released from the upper atmosphere of the Sun, called the corona. It affects the Earth's magnetosphere and is responsible for triggering auroras.