Space Weather News for Jan. 4, 2008
http://spaceweather.com

 Solar physicists have been waiting for the appearance of a
reversed-polarity sunspot to signal the start of the next solar cycle.

The wait is over. A magnetically reversed, high-latitude sunspot emerged
today.

This marks the beginning of Solar Cycle 24 and the first step toward a new
solar maximum.

Intense solar activity won't begin right away.

Solar cycles usually take a few years to build from solar minimum (where we
are now)

to Solar Max (expected in 2011 or 2012).  It's a slow journey, but we're on
our way!

> Visit http://spaceweather.com for pictures of the new sunspot and updates.