[South Florida DX Association] Solar Cycle 24 Begins

[Bill Marx]

Space Weather News for Jan. 4, 2008

Solar physicists have been waiting for the appearance of a reversed-polarity 
sunspot to signal the start of the next solar cycle. The wait is over. A 
magnetically reversed, high-latitude sunspot emerged today.  This marks the 
beginning of Solar Cycle 24 and the first step toward a new solar maximum. 
Intense solar activity won't begin right away.  Solar cycles usually take a 
few years to build from solar minimum (where we are now) to Solar Max 
(expected in 2011 or 2012).  It's a slow journey, but we're on our way!