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A spotless solar disk looks calm — but it doesn’t mean the Sun is asleep. Here’s why a “blank Sun” matters, how the solar cycle works, and why auroras can still happen even without sunspots.
TL;DR (Key Facts)
- Spotless day = no visible sunspots on the Sun’s surface (photosphere).
- If it persists, Feb 22, 2026 may be the first spotless day since 2022.
- Spotless days track the strength and phase of the solar cycle.
- A blank Sun does not mean Solar Minimum has arrived.
- Auroras can still occur due to coronal holes and solar wind streams.
“spotless day” since 2022.
Spotless days are a key indicator of the solar cycle. During years around
Solar Minimum, whole months can pass without a single sunspot.
Between 2018–2020, there were more than 700 spotless days.
Today’s blank Sun does not mean Solar Minimum has arrived — it is still years away.
However, it suggests that Solar Cycle 25 is waning.
Sunspots will be back — probably tomorrow — but today is a preview of things to come.
Sunspots vs. the Solar Atmosphere
🌞 The Surface (Photosphere)
- Visible in white light.
- Sunspots appear here.
- A spotless disk only reflects surface activity.
🔥 The Atmosphere (Corona)
- Invisible in white light; observed in UV and X-ray.
- Contains coronal holes and high-speed solar wind streams.
- Can be active even when no sunspots are visible.
The surface may look calm. The atmosphere may not be.
Meanwhile, a large coronal hole has opened in the Sun’s upper atmosphere, releasing a stream of high-speed solar wind toward Earth. Coronal holes appear dark in extreme ultraviolet images because their magnetic field lines open outward into space, allowing charged particles to escape more easily. The incoming stream is expected to arrive around February 24–25, potentially producing minor G1-class geomagnetic storms and enhancing auroras at high latitudes.
Even when the solar disk is spotless, the corona can remain active — and Earth’s magnetic field will respond when the solar wind arrives.
Why Auroras Can Happen Without Sunspots
Auroras occur when charged solar particles interact with Earth’s magnetic field.
These particles do not only come from sunspot-related eruptions.
- Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs): Often linked to active sunspot regions.
- Coronal Holes: Can produce high-speed solar wind even when the solar disk is spotless.
When solar wind interacts with Earth’s magnetosphere, it can trigger geomagnetic storms
and create auroras — even during a spotless day.
Why Spotless Days Matter
- Help track long-term solar activity trends.
- Provide clues about the timing of Solar Minimum.
- Influence space weather forecasting.
- Impact satellites, radio signals, and upper atmospheric density.
A blank Sun is not a dead Sun. It is part of the cycle — a magnetic exhale before the rebuild begins again.
Also in Today’s Newsletter
- 🌊 M7.1 deep earthquake off Malaysia felt across Southeast Asia.
- 🔥 Ranger Road megafire explodes across Oklahoma and Kansas — 283,000 acres.
- 🌍 Global wildfire seasons synchronizing at double the historical rate.
- 🏔️ Vanishing lakes in Tibet potentially triggering crustal rebound and seismic activity.
- 🗿 8,000-year-old petroglyph complex discovered in Venezuela.
- 🦈 First sleeper shark filmed deep beneath Antarctic waters.
- 🧠 Brain organoids solving engineering problems in laboratory experiments.
- 🌊 Water, fire & policy updates across the U.S. and Canada.
Want the Full Story?
For more videos, images, detailed analysis, and direct links to all the original sources,
read the complete February 22, 2026 newsletter.
👉 The Sun Goes Quiet. The Earth Does Not…
Stay curious. The Sun may go quiet — but the Earth never does.
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