Andy Keen

In the far reaches of the heavens, beyond the clouds and stars, lies a great celestial force – the Sun, the ancient fire of the sky. For countless ages, it has governed the world of Men, Elves, and all creatures beneath its gaze, casting warmth upon the Earth and guiding those who wander under the night’s shimmering veil. But the Sun, like all things in Middle-Earth, moves through cycles of both calm and storm, where its powers ebb and flow like the tides of the Sea.

The Dance of the Sun: The Rise of Solar Maximum

This mystical phase, known as the Solar Maximum, is when the Sun’s heart stirs from slumber and its magic flows fiercely. The Sun is not always as tranquil as it may seem from the fields and forests of the Earth. Indeed, every eleven years or so, the great furnace awakens, and its surface becomes rife with activity – sunspots, like darkened scars, appear as tokens of the Sun’s unrest. These are but signs of deeper powers surging within, like flames hidden beneath the blackened coals of a roaring fire.

The wizards and loremasters have observed this celestial rhythm for millennia. They tell us that during Solar Maximum, the Sun’s great magnetic fields twist and tangle in ways unfathomable, causing mighty solar flares and hurling vast storms of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) into the void. These are not merely whims of the Sun, but grand outpourings of energy, journeys of light and power that travel across the heavens, sometimes reaching the fragile world of Men below.

The Signs in the Sky: Aurora and the Solar Dance

It is during this time, O traveller of the skies, that the auroras – those magical lights that dance upon the Northern and Southern horizons – become more vivid and frequent. The peoples of the North, those who dwell in the snow-clad realms, know these lights well. Yet they might not know that the Solar Maximum strengthens the Sun’s gift, sending forth enchanted winds that sweep past the Earth, colliding with the unseen magic of the planet’s magnetic field. The result is a radiant battle of light and colour, a spectacle that can be seen by the fortunate even in lands where the auroras are seldom seen.

Indeed, those who seek the Northern Lights, like the heroes of old who searched for treasures hidden beyond the mountains, will find that during the height of Solar Maximum, their quest is more likely to succeed. The sky is more alive, the colours more vivid, as if the very fabric of the heavens has been set ablaze by the Sun’s will. The ethereal greens, blues, and even fiery reds of the auroras seem to spread farther, reaching down to latitudes that would normally only dream of such splendour.

The Journey of Solar Maximum: When Will It Come?

And so, loremasters of our age speak of Solar Cycle 25, which began in the winter of 2019. They say that the Sun’s powers will peak in the years of 2024 and 2025, a time when the world will witness the Sun at its most powerful. For those who seek the magical lights in the sky, this time will be a great opportunity. The fires of the Sun shall surge, and with them, the auroras will dance in a manner not seen for many years.

But, alas, the Solar Maximum is but a fleeting phase, lasting no more than two or three years before the Sun begins to quiet once again. Like the great kings of old, who reigned for a time before passing into memory, the Sun, too, will settle into what is known as the Solar Minimum.

The Waning of the Sun: Solar Minimum

When the Solar Maximum has passed, the Sun’s fire will burn more calmly, and the surface will become peaceful once more. The number of sunspots will dwindle, and the mighty flares and coronal mass ejections will grow rare. In this period of quiet, the auroras, too, will retreat. The lights that once danced so freely in the sky will return to their polar homes, visible only in the farthest northern or southern reaches of the world.

Yet, even during this time of Solar Minimum, the Sun remains ever watchful, for its cycle never truly ends. Though the magic of auroras will grow weaker, the Sun’s hidden powers will still influence the realms of Men. Its magnetic field, though less active, allows more cosmic rays – distant travellers from beyond the solar system – to wander through the heavens and touch the Earth.

The Cycle Continues: A Tale Without End

But, as in all things, this too shall pass. The cycle of the Sun is eternal, for it has been set in motion since the very shaping of the world. After the years of quiet, the Sun will once again gather its strength, and a new Solar Maximum will rise. And so the cycle begins anew, like the turning of the great wheels of time, or the flowing of rivers that ever return to the sea.

The Wisdom of the Loremasters

For those who seek the knowledge of the heavens, it is known that:

And so, dear reader, as you prepare for your own quest to witness the magic of the auroras, know that now, in these years of 2024 to 2025, the Sun’s power is nearing its zenith. Watch the skies, for the time of Solar Maximum is upon us. The lights shall dance, the heavens shall glow, and the auroras – like the banners of ancient kings – will stretch across the night for all who seek them.

Yet remember, as all wise folk do, that this time will not last forever. The Solar Maximum will fade, and the Sun will rest once more. But do not fear, for in the great cycle of the cosmos, the Sun will rise again, and the auroras will once more call out to those who are brave enough to chase the lights of the sky.