Susitna Writer's Voice - July 2, 2023, StarDate Susitna, by Kathleen Fleming

This StarDate Susitna, aired less than 2 weeks after the Summer Solstice, is all about the only star we can (potentially) see from here, these days. The Sun is in the early years of Solar Cycle 25, which is shaping up to be MUCH stronger than the experts predicted. Kathleen Fleming talked about the Sun’s cycles as well as some positive (Aurora!) and not-so-positive effects of an increased number of sunspots, AND the enormous dark spot that was visible for a few days (see image).

Image of the sun on July 3, 2023 from spaceweather.com, credit: SDO/HMI. The giant sunspot complex on the upper right has since rotated out of view.  If it persists for 2 weeks, it could show up on the left limb of the Sun, but it would get a new number.  The Sun rotates once on its axis in 4 weeks, on average; faster at the equator, slower at the poles. 

This graph is posted on spaceweather.com, July 3rd page.