Sunspot numbers hit 20-year high, indicating the sun is fast approaching its explosive peak

A time-lapse image of all the sunspots that appeared on the sun in June 2023. (Made using data from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory.) (Image credit: Şenol Şanlı)

The sun is partying like it's 2002. The number of observed sunspots on our home star last month was the highest for almost 21 years. It's one of the clearest signs yet we are fast approaching the sun's chaotic peak, known as solar maximum — and that  it will be far more extreme than initially predicted.

In June, 163 sunspots appeared on the solar surface, according to the Space Weather Prediction Center. The last time this many dark patches littered the sun was in September 2002, when 187 sunspots were observed.