Solar Max Surprise: Auroras Creeping South
​The sun is roaring toward the peak of Solar Cycle 25, and that means the aurora oval is sagging farther toward the equator than it has in more than two decades.
July 2025 | The sun is roaring toward the peak of Solar Cycle 25, and that means the aurora oval is sagging farther toward the equator than it has in more than two decades.  Over the past week space‑weather monitors logged two M‑class flares and a high‑speed solar‑wind stream that sparked G1 geomagnetic storms – bright enough to tint skies as far south as northern Missouri and central Germany.  
Scientists say the heightened activity is textbook solar‑maximum behaviour, but the geography is exceptional: data from the NOAA SWPC show minor storms now occurring about 40 % more frequently than during the 2014 peak of Cycle 24.  
For sky watchers, “minor” is more than enough; a K‑p index of 5 can already trigger curtains of green and magenta for latitudes below 50°â€¯N/50°â€¯S.  If you missed last night’s display, keep a lookout around local midnight this entire week; EarthSky’s forecast indicates several coronal‑hole windstreams are en route.  Yes, the nights are short in July—but the payoff could be a once‑in‑a‑lifetime selfie with the northern lights from your own backyard.