The Sun is now in the quietest phase of its 11-year activity cycle, the solar minimum – in fact, it has been unusually quiet this year – with over 200 days so far with no observed sunspots. The solar wind has also dropped to its lowest levels in 50 years. Scientists are unsure of the significance of this unusual calm, but are continually monitoring our closest star with an array of telescopes and satellites.
( if you were to drive a car at 60 miles an hour (100km) towards the sun for 24 hours a day you will reach the star in 177 years. It take light from the sun about 8 minutes to reach earth )