If you’ve noticed a little extra energy in the sky lately, it’s not just the summer heat — it’s the Sun itself turning up the volume.
We are currently riding the peak of Solar Cycle 25, a roughly 11-year rhythm in which our star switches from snoozing to showing off. And June 2025? It’s right in the hot seat.
☀️ What Is a Solar Maximum?
Every solar cycle brings a wave of rising and falling activity on the Sun’s surface. During solar maximum, the Sun goes into overdrive:
- Sunspots — dark patches that are actually magnetic storms — multiply like summer tourists on a Costa beach.
- Solar flares — giant explosions from the Sun’s surface — can blast energy across the Solar System.
- Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) can send clouds of charged particles hurtling toward Earth, stirring up geomagnetic storms and auroras.
In short, the Sun is at its most dramatic — and astronomers love the drama.
⚡ Recent Solar Events: A Wake-Up Call
Just last month, on May 14, the Sun unleashed an X2.7-class solar flare, the strongest of the year so far. This powerful eruption caused radio blackouts across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, highlighting the Sun’s potential to disrupt our technology-dependent world.
Then, on June 1, a G4 (Severe) geomagnetic storm reached Earth, triggered by a CME from May 30. This storm led to auroras visible as far south as Alabama and Northern California and raised concerns about potential disruptions to power grids, GPS systems, and communication networks .
These events serve as a reminder of the Sun’s immense power and the importance of monitoring space weather.
🌍 What Does This Mean for Us?
Here on Earth, the effects can range from dazzling to disruptive:
- Auroras: While we’re a bit too south in Spain to regularly see them, strong solar storms can push the auroral oval further down — not common, but not impossible!
- Satellite and GPS interference: Space weather can mess with tech, which is great if you’re trying to teach teenagers patience.
- Epic solar views: Through a proper solar telescope (never look at the Sun directly!), you can see sunspots, prominences, and even solar flares in real time.
🔭 See It for Yourself
This is an extraordinary time to turn your eyes (safely!) to the Sun. And yes, we’re making the most of it.
👉 At Finca Astronomica, we’re celebrating the Sun’s fiery personality with a series of daytime solar observation sessions throughout June. Using specially filtered telescopes, we’ll reveal the Sun’s true face — warts (sunspots) and all.
✨ Want to experience solar astronomy at its peak? Staye tuned for our Family Weekends! The Sun won’t be this exciting again for another decade.
