The Sky at Night · SEASON 21
The Solar Cycle
Episode 5 · 1977-05-18

- Documentary
- News
Episode overview
Sunspots are known to increase and decrease over an 11-year cycle. We have just passed through a period of minimum solar activity and the sun-spots should now be increasing, but are slow to do so. Patrick Moore and Dr Ron Maddi son discuss the possible causes of this apparent irregularity. in the solar cycle, and talk about some of the other interesting features of the sun's surface.
Season 21 episodes
1. Sirius, the Dog-Star1977-01-17
2. Travel in Space and Time1977-02-17
3. The Mapping of Mercury1977-03-16
4. Celebrates its 20th anniversary1977-04-20
5. The Solar Cycle1977-05-18
6. Uranus - the Second Ringed Planet?1977-06-15
7. The New Infra-red Telescope1977-07-20
8. The Swan in the Sky1977-08-10
9. The Voyager Missions1977-09-07
10. Stars of the Far South1977-09-28
11. The Amateur Astronomer1977-10-24
12. Why Do the Planets Shine?1977-11-23
13. Suns, Space-ships, and Bug-eyed Monsters1977-12-14