Away from the crises of the planet, our sun was living a fairly calm year.
A closer look at its activity confirms what sun enthusiasts have been suspicious of for some time - our closest star has entered a new cycle in its life.
Since we began tracking dark sunspots in earnest, humans have observed a pattern of rest and activity that repeats roughly every 11 years.
There have been 24 such cycles since observations were first recorded in the mid-eighteenth century.
Course 25
According to the statement issued by a panel of experts from NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and published on the first website on September 15, December 2019 marks the beginning of the 25th session. .
"We keep a detailed record of the few small sunspots that signal the beginning and emergence of a new cycle," says Frederick Clitt, Director of the World Data Center Sunspot Index and Long-term Solar Observations.
And he adds, according to a report by Science Alert, "These are little heralds for giant solar fireworks in the future. Only by tracking the general trend over several months can we determine the turning point between two cycles."
In practice, differences in the behavior of the Sun make it impossible to define a new beginning until that beginning has passed.
It took a sifting through of the solar activity data from the past eight months to make sure that the past year was quite calm to boredom.
There is a detailed record of the few small sunspots that signal the start and appearance of a new cycle (NASA)
Mechanisms behind the cycles
Despite centuries of meticulous recording of eleven-year cycles, we still do not have knowledge of the mechanisms behind these cycles that have been so successful.
Star periodicity is very common looking at the universe, where you find a variety of pulsating objects that appear to ignite at intervals that you can almost set your clock on.
The patterns in our sun are best determined by changes in their magnetic fields, which in turn are driven by complex currents of plasma flowing deep within it.
Exactly what drives and pulls these currents in this rhythmic manner is the part that we need to discover, but there is a temptation to associate it with a similar frequency in the orbits of the planets.
As NASA solar energy scientist Lyka Gohatakurta says, "When we go out of the solar minimum and approach the 25th maximum, it is important to remember that solar activity never stops. Its shape changes as the pendulum swings."
While the cycle of ups and downs occurs over an 11-year period, it more accurately represents a reflection of a larger 22-year cycle defined by the complete reversal of the sun's polarity.
Every 11 years, the poles change and return to their place at the end of the next episode.
Worry-free monitoring
Observing these shifts can help us better predict space weather, which is largely dictated by outbursts of charged plasma and radiation that can explode ferociously in space, especially during peak solar periods.
It will be about 5 more years before we say that we are in the midst of the most aggressive phase of the Sun.
And that doesn't mean we don't need attention right now.
And we also have to watch whether or not Solar Cycle 25 will exhibit, although it is unlikely to be explosive.
Cycle 24 was relatively quiet compared to previous sessions, which were somewhat stronger than usual.
Ripples of charged plasma and radiation can explode ferociously in space (United States National Solar Observatory)
"Just because it's a below-average solar cycle, it doesn't mean there is no risk of extreme space weather," says Doug Bisker, co-chair of the committee and heliophysicist at NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center in Colorado.
He adds that "the impact of the sun on our daily life is real and there."
But it helps to be realistic about what this effect is. Here on Earth, you are protected by several kilometers from the atmosphere, and solar cycles are barely noticeable.
And if you're lucky, you might see a slight rebound in aurora activity during peak solar periods.