Solar cycle (calendar)

The solar cycle is like a big clock that tells us when the sun is going through different stages. The clock has 11 years on it and each year is like a little box that holds different things that happen to the sun.

When the clock starts, the sun is very calm and doesn't have a lot of activity going on. But as the years go by, the sun starts to get more active and has lots of sunspots and flares. These are like little explosions on the sun that shoot out hot gas and energy.

As the clock gets closer to the end of the 11 years, the sun starts to calm down again and go back to being quiet. Then the clock starts all over again and we go through another 11-year cycle.

Scientists use the solar cycle to study the sun and learn more about how it affects things on Earth, like our weather and our communication systems. It's important to understand the solar cycle so we can be prepared for any changes that might happen on the sun.