Using the largest coordinated fleet of spacecraft and ground observatories ever assembled scientists from NASA, as well as NOAA, will be able to observe the Sun's angry outbursts of solar radiation and predict the impact of turbulent space weather. According to the scientists, the Sun is near the zenith of its 11-year activity cycle.
Solar maximum lasts for a period of two to three years.
During that time, the Sun's activity is most tempestuous and the Earth is buffeted with powerful solar gusts. The images and data are beyond the wildest expectations of the astronomers of a generation ago. However, the July solar shower blinded key ACE detectors. With the absence of reliable data, scientists and forecasters had to wait until Earth's magnetic field became distorted before they knew that the disturbance had arrived. According to the NASA press release, the effects of the July storm were widespread.