Space weather refers to conditions in the region of space that is affected by the sun. It is tricky to predict and can wreak havoc on the technological world.
Sunspots are cooler, planet-size regions of strong magnetic fields on the surface of the sun. Explore sunspots in more detail with our comprehensive guide.
The solar cycle describes an 11-year period of solar activity driven by the sun s magnetic field and indicated by the number of sunspots visible on the surface.