5th January 2024 Sunspots and 2023 graph

[John W]

5th January.

The end of December 2023 saw a mean monthly sunspot number of 114.2. This was 8.8 above the figure for November.
The following graph shows the changes in mean sunspot number since Cycle 25 started. The purple crosses show the predicted path.
This graph is based on models used by the Australian Space Weather Service. According to them we have passed maximum earlier than expected by other models.
I have also included an images I recorded today (5th Jan) of sunspots. This is a single exposure image taken with a Canon 550d camera.

Thanks for viewing.

[Dave882]

Nice work John!
That’s a really interesting analysis which shows quite effectively the solar cycle. But are you suggesting that the solar maximum has already past? I thought there was still almost a year left?

[John W]

Hi David, We may have passed maximum - it depends on who's model you follow - USA models expect max to occur during mid 2024/25. Only time will tell. Cheers, John W.