Solar Maximum

Every eleven years or so the Sun ramps up to a boil: more sunspots, more eruptions, more storms — and far more frequent, far-reaching auroras. Aurora chasing is easiest in the years around solar maximum.

Solar maximum marks peak sunspot number as the solar magnetic dynamo reaches maximum toroidal field production before polarity reversal. CME rates rise from roughly one every few days at minimum to several per day at maximum.

Around maximum, mid-latitude aurora nights go from once-a-decade to several-per-year events. Plan bucket-list trips for these years.