Experts warn that the sun's next "solar maximum" could be more powerful and arrive sooner than expected.

Experts have advised people to monitor reliable sources like NASA and NOAA for updates on solar activity and space weather.

Solar maximum and minimum are formally defined by the high and low points of this smoothed curve. Related: Solar maximum is coming, but we won't know it happened until 7 months after it's over.

Higher solar activity brings more radiation, which can damage satellite electronics and force some satellites to deorbit ...

A solar physicist who accurately predicted that the sun's explosive peak would arrive sooner — and be more powerful — than originally forecast tells Live Science that it may have already begun.

Solar maximum refers to the highest rate of solar activity during the sun's approximately 11-year solar cycle. It is indicated by the intensity and frequency of sunspots visible on the surface.

The sun will reach solar maximum, or a peak in activity across its 11-year cycle, about a year sooner than originally predicted. Auroras, solar flares and space weather are all expected to increase.

And some scientists think the next solar maximum may be coming sooner — and be much more powerful — than we thought. Originally, scientists predicted that the current solar cycle would peak in ...

The number of those sunspots steadily increases as the star moves toward solar maximum. Once there is a notable decline, researchers can define the start and end of the active period. In some ...

Scientists said the sun is now in its solar maximum, or the peak of its 11-year solar cycle. Hotspots ranked Start the day smarter ☀️ Funniest cap messages Get the USA TODAY app ...

Past cycles suggest the solar maximum may last for somewhere between one and two years, though scientists don't know for sure. Potential impacts on Earth .