ESA: New Sunspot Cycle Has Started

The European Space Agency says the development of a special solar spot on the sun’s surface a few days ago marked the start of a new solar cycle.

Each solar cycle lasts an average of 11.1 years. The new solar cycle, called Cycle 24, started Jan. 4, when the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory satellite, called SOHO, observed the event scientists had been anticipating for about a year.

A fairly small and, at first sight, inconspicuous sunspot on the sun’s northern hemisphere showed a reversed magnetic polarity compared with sunspots of previous years. A sunspot is an area of highly organized magnetic activity on the sun’s surface.

The development of the new solar cycle was made official when the sunspot was cataloged by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The ESA said Solar Cycle 24 is expected to reach its maximum activity by 2011 or 2012, although intense solar flares might occur at any time.

SOHO, which celebrated the 12th anniversary of its launch Dec. 2, is a joint project of the ESA and the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration.