The sun has gone "completely blank" for the second time this month suggesting that Earth could be heading for a mini ICE AGE.

本月已经第二次出现太阳黑子“完全消失”，这预示着地球可能迎来迷你冰期。

Earlier this month, there were no sunspots on the massive star's surface for four days - something which hadn't happened since 2011. This has since happened again.

本月早些时候，这颗巨大恒星的表面持续4天没有太阳黑子。这种情况自2011年就没再出现过。现在，它又发生了。

A lack of sun spots is totally normal, but it does hint¹ that the sun is heading for its next "solar minimum phase".

太阳黑子减少是完全正常的，但这确实暗示了太阳正步入下一个“太阳活动极小期”。

The next solar minimum phase is expected to take place in 2019 or 2020, says meteorologist Paul Dorian of Vencore Weather, who expects to see an increasing number of spotless days over the next few years.

美国Vencore公司的气象学者保罗•多里安说，下一个太阳活动极小期预计开始于2019年或2020年。他预测未来几年将会看到更多没有太阳黑子的日子。

The last time the sun saw a such a long phase with no sunspots, it ushered² in what scientists refer to as a the 'Maunder Minimum' back in 1645.

上一次如此长时间不见太阳黑子，地球就迎来了科学家所说的“蒙德极小期”。那是在1645年。

This caused temperatures to plunge³ dramatically, and even resulted in the Thames freezing over.

那时的气温大幅度下降，泰晤士河甚至全面结冰。

Some experts think that a similar mini ice age could be coming again soon.

一些专家认为，类似的迷你冰期不久可能会再次到来。

The solar phenomenon⁴ could even prove dangerous for astronauts, says Paul Dorian.

保罗•多里安说，这种太阳现象甚至可能对宇航员构成危险。

During these spotless phases of the sun, extreme ultraviolet radiation drops, resulting in lower aerodynamic drag as the Earth's atmosphere cools and contracts.

在太阳黑子消失的时期，极紫外辐射下降，地球大气层冷却收缩，导致气动阻力变小。

The lower drag can cause space junk to accumulate in orbit, which could result in a collision with the International Space Station or other spacecraft⁵.

阻力变小会使太空垃圾积聚在轨道上，可能会与国际空间站或其他航天器相撞。