Overview
- NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded a spot-free solar disk on February 22, with astronomers confirming a spotless face on February 23 for the first time since June 2022.
- Reports indicate the Sun stayed spotless through February 24, with new sunspot activity emerging by February 24–25.
- Solar Cycle 25 began in December 2019 and peaked in October 2024 earlier than many forecasts, followed by a decline in sunspot counts including a sharp drop noted in May 2025.
- The UK Met Office projects the next true solar minimum around 2030, implying several more years of fluctuating activity.
- Researchers note that powerful solar flares and coronal mass ejections can still occur during a declining phase, and the last minimum featured more than 700 spotless days.