Solar cycle 24 | |
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![]() ISES Solar Cycle 24 Sunspot Number Progression | |
Sunspot data | |
Start date | December 2008 |
End date | December 2019 |
Duration (years) | 11.0 |
Max count | 81.8 |
Max count month | April 2014 |
Min count | 2.2 |
Spotless days | 489 |
Cycle chronology | |
Previous cycle | Solar cycle 23 (1996-2008) |
Next cycle | Solar cycle 25 (2019-present) |
Solar cycle 24 is the most recently completed solar cycle, the 24th since 1755, when extensive recording of solar sunspot activity began.[1][2] It began in December 2008 with a minimum smoothed sunspot number of 2.2,[3][failed verification] and ended in December 2019.[4] Activity was minimal until early 2010.[5][6] It reached its maximum in April 2014 with a 23 months smoothed sunspot number of 81.8.[7] This maximum value was substantially lower than other recent solar cycles, down to a level which had not been seen since cycles 12 to 15 (1878-1923).