Solar Section        

July 20, 2018

A Short Summary of Carrington Rotation 2205

Carrington Rotation 2205 covered the time period from 2018-06-12 1554 UT – 2018-07-09 2038 UT.
229 Images/Observations were submitted at the time of this writing. The submissions can be viewed in ALPO’s Solar Archive for CR2205:

http://alpo-astronomy.org/gallery3/index.php/Solar-Observations-Archive/SolarImages2018/CR2205

Although CR2005 showed us active regions for the same number of days as CR2204 (12), the Total Active Region Area for the Rotation (sum of all daily active region areas) went up approx. 1.5x from 770 millionths to 1180 millionths. This increased activity was mainly caused by AR2715. During the rotation, the Sun’s flare activity however reduced compared to the previous rotation and accounted for a total of 2 C-class flares as well as 34 B-class flares, leaving the overall Solar Activity Very Low. We were able to observe three Active Regions, AR2713, AR2714 and AR2715. AR2714 was a short lived regions of 4 days, but AR2715 with 8 days lasted a little longer, but accumulated a Total Region Area of 690 millionths. The maximum sunspot count was 24 on June 21nd, for a Wolf Number of 54. The rotation ended with Spotless Day 239.

This time we would like to feature some drawings submitted by three of our observers, Tony Broxton, Monty Leventhal, and Tom Mangelsdorf. Thanks to them, as well as all other contributors for another great rotation. Please take a look at all the drawings/images by clicking on the link above which links to our archive for CR2205.
Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers
Assistant Coordinator, the ALPOSS

June 12, 2018

ALPOSS – A report on Carrington Rotation CR2199 through CR2201

ALPOSS Coordinator and Scientific Advisor Richard Hill continues his papers covering the analysis of the activity of the Sun’s Carrington Rotations using the images and reports submitted to the Solar Section with a report on: CR2199 thru CR2201. This report covers the period from December 30, 2017 2231 UT, thru 2018-03-22 2229 UT. The reports are based on over 363 image and observation submissions by numerous contributors to the Solar Observations Archive. The report was published in the 2018 Summer issue of the ALPO Journal, the Strolling Astronomer, and can now also be accessed as a standalone document on ALPOSS Solar Observations & Reports page, or by downloading it by “right” clicking on the picture below.

June 15, 2018

A Short Summary of Carrington Rotation 2204

Carrington Rotation 2204 covered the time period from 2018-05-16 1054 UT – 2018-06-09 2038 UT.
193 Images/Observations were submitted at the time of this writing. The submissions can be viewed in ALPO’s Solar Archive for CR2204:

http://alpo-astronomy.org/gallery3/index.php/Solar-Observations-Archive/SolarImages2018/CR2204

Even tough the previous rotation only had 9 spotless days, and CR2204 accounted for 12, the Total Active Region Area for the rotation went up from 660 millionths to 770 millionths. This increased activity was mainly caused by AR2712. During the Rotation, the Sun accounted for a total of 3 C-class flares as well as 77 B-class flares, leaving the overall Solar Activity Very Low. We were able to observe three Active Regions, AR2710, AR2711 and AR2712. AR2710 and 11 were both short lived regions (4 and 5 days), but AR2712 lasted for 12 days at which time it did rotate to the far side, and accumulated a Total Region Area of 540 millionths. The Total Active Region size for the rotation went up from 660 for the previous rotation, to 770 millionths, and the maximum sunspots count was 12 on three days, May 26, May 30th and June 2nd. The rotation ended with spotless day 227.

For this rotation we would like to feature some images submitted by three of our observers, Christian Viladrich, Monty Leventhal, and Frank Melillo. Thanks to them, as well as all other contributors for another great rotation. Please take a look at all the drawings/images by clicking on the link above which links to our archive for CR2204.
Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers
Assistant Coordinator, the ALPOSS

May 22, 2018

A Short Summary of Carrington Rotation 2203

Carrington Rotation 2203 covered the time period from 2018-04-19 0515 UT – 2018-05-16 1057 UT.
272 Submissions were submitted at the time of this writing. The submissions can be viewed in ALPO’s Solar Archive for CR2203:

http://alpo-astronomy.org/gallery3/index.php/Solar-Observations-Archive/SolarImages2018/CR2203

Following two rotations with 20 or more spotless days, this rotation only had 9 spotless days. The increased activity was caused by short duration active regions. Two of them only lasted 6 days and remained at 10 millionths, except for AR2708, which covered 30 millionths for one day only on May 5th. The region getting all the attention was AR2706 which lasted 9 days and peaked with 130 millionths on April 22nd, and 13 sunspots one day prior to that. AR2707 was visible for one day only at a size of 10 millionths. The rotation ended with spotless day 215. The total Active Region size for the rotation went up from 60 for the previous rotation to 660 millionths, and the maximum sunspots count was 14 on April 22nd.

For this rotation we would like to feature some images submitted by three of our observers, Christian Viladrich, Dave Tyler, and Guilherme Grassmann. Thanks to them, as well as all other contributors for another great rotation. Please take a look at all the drawings/images by clicking on the link above which links to our archive for CR2203.
Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers
Assistant Coordinator, the ALPOSS

April 23, 2018

A Short Summary of Carrington Rotation 2202

Carrington Rotation 2202 covered the time period from 2018-03-22 2229 UT – 2018-04-19 0515 UT .
155 Submissions were submitted at the time of this writing. The submissions can be viewed in ALPO’s Solar Archive for CR2202:

http://alpo-astronomy.org/gallery3/index.php/Solar-Observations-Archive/SolarImages2018/CR2202

This rotation only showed active regions for 5 days of the rotation, spread over three short periods. AR2703 and AR2704 were visible only for 2 days each and covered 10, resp. 30 millionths. AR2705 was only a one day event and covered only 10 millionths. The highest Wolf Number of 14 was recorded on April 14, which also accounted for the second day of AR2704. The rotation ended with spotless day 206 making the rotation the rotation with the highest spotless count since solar max..

For this rotation we would like to feature three observations submitted by three of our observers, Roberto Braga, Guilherme Grassmann, and Howard Eskildsen. Thanks to them, as well as all other contributors for another great rotation. Please take a look at all the drawings/images by clicking on the link above which links to our archive for CR2202.
Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers
Assistant Coordinator, the ALPOSS

March 27, 2018

A Short Summary of Carrington Rotation 2201

Carrington Rotation 2201 covered the time period from 2018-02-23 1448 UT – 2018-03-22 2229 UT .
124 Submissions were submitted at the time of this writing. The submissions can be viewed in ALPO’s Solar Archive for CR2201:

http://alpo-astronomy.org/gallery3/index.php/Solar-Observations-Archive/SolarImages2018/CR2201

This rotation only showed active regions for 8 days of the rotation, spread over three short periods. AR2700 was only visible for 5 days relative early in the rotation and covered only 10 millionths except for the first day when it recorded 30 millionths. This region was followed late in the rotation with a one day appearance of AR2701 covering only 10 millionths and two days later AR2702 for two days covering 10 millionths. The highest Wolf Number of 16 was recorded on February 22, which also accounted for the highest Active Region Area of 30 millions. The rotation ended with spotless day 183.

For this rotation we would like to feature three observations submitted by three of our observers, Guilherme Grassmann, Howard Eskildsen, and Theo Ramakers. Thanks to them, as well as all other contributors for another great rotation. Please take a look at all the drawings/images by clicking on the link above which links to our archive for CR2201.
Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers
Assistant Coordinator, the ALPOSS

March 25, 2018

ALPOSS – A report on Carrington Rotation CR2195 through CR2198

This time ALPOSS Coordinator and Scientific Advisor Richard Hill continues his papers covering the analysis of the activity of the Sun’s Carrington Rotations with a report on: CR2195 thru CR2198. This covers the period from September 12, 2017, until December 30, 2017. The reports are based on over 1221 reports and image submissions of numerous contributors to the Solar Observations Archive. The report was published in the 2018 Winter issue of the ALPO Journal, the Strolling Astronomer, and can now also be accessed as a stand alone document on ALPOSS Solar Observations & Reports page, or downloading it by “right” clicking on the picture below.

March 24, 2018

ALPOSS – A report on Carrington Rotation CR2191 through CR2194

ALPOSS Coordinator and Scientific Advisor Richard Hill continues his papers covering the analysis of the activity of the Sun’s Carrington Rotations with a report on: CR2191 thru CR2194. This covers the period from May 26th, 2017 until September 12, 2017. The reports are based on over 1600 reports and image submissions of numerous contributors to the Solar Observations Archive. The report was published in the 2017 Autumn issue of the ALPO Journal, the Strolling Astronomer, and can now also be accessed as a stand alone document on ALPOSS Solar Observations & Reports page, or downloading it by “right” clicking on the picture below.

March 23, 2018

A Short Summary of Carrington Rotation 2200

Carrington Rotation 2200 covered the time period from 2018-01-27 0639 UT – 2018-02-23 1448 UT .
120 Submissions were added to ALPO’s Solar archive at the time of this writing. The submissions can be viewed in ALPO’s Solar Archive for CR2200:

http://alpo-astronomy.org/gallery3/index.php/Solar-Observations-Archive/SolarImages2018/CR2200

This rotation allowed us to see again a nice sized active region track along the visible hemisphere of the Sun from February 5th till February 17th. Active Region AR2699 increased in coverage from 80 millionths when it came around the eastern limb to 240 millionths on February 11, when 25 sunspots were recorded. Despite this, the region only produced one C-class flare, a C4.6 on February 10th. In addition, we were able to see two very small regions, AR2697 and AR2698, which each disappeared within a day. The highest Wolf Number of 35 and the highest Active Region Area for the day of 240 millionths were recorded on February 11. This was a nice rotation for a change, with a Total Rotation Active Region Area of 2160 millionths. But it ended with spotless day 163.

For this rotation we would like to feature three observations submitted by three of our observers, Dave Tyler, Howard Eskildsen, and a composite by Rik Hill. Thanks to them, as well as all other contributors for another great rotation. Please take a look at all the drawings/images by clicking on the link above which links to our archive for CR2200.
Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers
Assistant Coordinator, the ALPOSS

March 23, 2018

A Short Summary of Carrington Rotation 2199

Carrington Rotation 2199 covered the time period from 2017-12-30 2231UT – 2018-01-27 0639 UT .
106 Submissions were added to ALPO’s Solar archive at the time of this writing. The submissions can be viewed in ALPO’s Solar Archive for CR2199:

http://alpo-astronomy.org/gallery3/index.php/Solar-Observations-Archive/SolarImages2017/CR2199

During this rotation we could observe 4 Active Regions AR2692-AR2695. AR2692, visible for 4 days starting on January 5th, was replaced by AR2693 which was visible for 3 days from January 9th till January 11. AR2694 replaced AR2693 on January 12th for 1 day only. The final active region for the rotation, AR2695, was visible for 5 days and grew to a size of 30 millionths and a Wolf Number of 13 on January 17th. Active Regions were visible on 13 days, and 15 days were spot less, bringing the spotless days since solar Max at the end of the rotation to 152. The highest Wolf Number of 13 and the highest Active Region Area for the day of 30 millionths were recorded on January 17th. At 180 millionths, this rotation showed by far the lowest Total Active Regions Total for a rotation since solar max .

For this rotation we would like to feature three observations submitted by three of our observers, Monty Leventhal, Tony Broxton, and David Teske. Thanks to them, as well as all other contributors for another great rotation. Please take a look at all the drawings/images by clicking on the link above which links to our archive for CR2199.
Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers
Assistant Coordinator, the ALPOSS