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How long does the sunspot cycle last?
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Joshua trees at sunset, Joshua Tree National Park, southern California, U.S.
The sunspot cycle, also known as the solar cycle, typically lasts about 11 years. This period represents the time it takes for the number and size of sunspots to rise to a maximum and then return to a minimum.123
While the cycle is generally regular, its duration can vary, and it is part of a larger, 22-year magnetic cycle. Because the magnetic polarity configuration of sunspot groups reverses every 11 years, it takes 22 years for the magnetic field to return to its original state.12