What difference would a grand solar minimum make in the amount of solar energy reaching us? (skepticalscience.com)
During solar minimum, which is when the upcoming eclipse will occur, there is more magnetic activity at the sun's equator and poles. (discovermagazine.com)
But the behavior of our host star is not as predictable as all that — the most recent solar minimum of late 2008 was surprisingly quiet and prolonged. (scientificamerican.com)