Scientists used centuries-old aurora sightings: their method placed solar minima within 2 years with more than 90% reliability

Ancient auroras are unlocking secrets of solar activity, offering scientists a glimpse into the Sun’s behavior long before our time. By employing a new statistical method to analyze historical sky observations, researchers have pieced together eight distinct cycles of solar activity from 1560 to 1640. This intriguing study correlates well with various independent solar records, enhancing our understanding of solar dynamics pre-dating contemporary measurements.