Solar Section        

March 3, 2020

A Short Summary of CR2227

Carrington Rotation CR2227 covered the time period from 2020-02-02 1721 UT – 2020-03-01 0126 UT.
At the time of this writing 118 images were submitted for the archives, which is about 100 less than for the previous rotation, and is a result of being around solar minimum and the bad weather conditions. The submissions can be viewed in ALPO’s Solar Archive for CR2227 which can be accessed at:
http://alpo-astronomy.org/gallery3/index.php/Solar-Observations-Archive/SolarImages2020/CR2227
The rotation did not bring us any new active regions, however, on the fist day AR2757 turned to the far side of the Sun. We noticed some small areas of which a few were reverse polarized, which did not create any Sunspots, . See our overview (pdf) of the Reverse Polarized Areas, by clicking here. On March 3rd. the spotless streak stands at 28 spotless days which gives this solar minimum 6 streaks of 28 days or higher, whereas the previous solar minimum gave us only 3. However, these 3 spotless streaks were much longer than what we have seen so far. Overall Solar Activity remained Very Low and the rotation increased the spotless days count since solar maximum to 690. Finally, during the period SWPC reported 3 A-class, and no B- or C-class flares.
This time we would like to feature 3 images submitted by Howard Eskildsen, Theo Ramakers and Guilherme Grassman. Thanks to these and all other observers for submitting their observations Please click the thumbnails below to see the full images in the archive.
Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers
Assistant Coordinator, the ALPOSS

February 3, 2020

A Short Summary of Carrington Rotation 2226

Carrington Rotation CR2226 covered the time period from 2020-01-06 0911 UT – 2020-02-02 1721 UT.
At the time of this writing 208 images were submitted for the archives. The submissions can be viewed in ALPO’s Solar Archive for CR2226 which can be accessed at:
http://alpo-astronomy.org/gallery3/index.php/Solar-Observations-Archive/SolarImages2020/CR2226
The rotation brought us three active regions, AR2755, AR2756 and AR2757, of which one was reversed polarized. In addition to this AR, we had additional reversed polarized areas which lasted days, or just a few hours. See our overview (pdf) of the Reverse Polarized Areas, by clicking here. AR2757, a cycle 24 area, finally brought an Active Region Area again with a size of 100 millionths, while it was reported as an Hsx area. The last time we saw an area over 100 millionths was AR2745 on May 19, 2019. The highest Wolf number was 18 on January 27th, and the Total Rotation Active Region Area was at 430 millionth. Overall Solar Activity remained Very Low and the rotation increased the spotless days count since solar maximum to 662. Finally, during the period SWPC reported 2 A-class, 5 B-class, and no C-class flares.
This time we would like to feature 3 images submitted by Howard Eskildsen, Theo Ramakers and Jeffrey Carels. Thanks to these and all other observers for submitting their observations Please click the thumbnails below to see the full images in the archive.
Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers
Assistant Coordinator, the ALPOSS

January 10, 2020

A Short Summary of Carrington Rotation 2225

Carrington Rotation CR2225 covered the time period from 2019-12-10 0116 UT – 2020-01-06 0911 UT.
The number of submitted images continued to be low this rotation. At the time of this writing 143 images were submitted for the archives. The submissions can be viewed in ALPO’s Solar Archive for CR2225 which can be accessed at:
http://alpo-astronomy.org/gallery3/index.php/Solar-Observations-Archive/SolarImages2019/CR2225
The rotation brought us not only three active regions, AR2753, AR2754, and AR2755, but they were reversed polarized, making them consistent with Cycle 25 areas. See our overview of the Reverse Polarized Areas, by clicking here. The regions did not make it above an area of 10 millionths, except for the first three days of AR2753 when this region covered 20 millionths. The total Rotation Active Region Area was at 140 millionth, and the highest Wolf number was 24 on December 25th . Overall Solar Activity remained Very Low and the rotation increased the spotless days count since solar maximum to 647. Finally, during the period SWPC reported 4 A-class, no B, and no C-class flares.
This time we would like to feature 3 images submitted by Guilherme Grassmann, Howard Eskildsen, and Theo Ramakers who did submit a composite in different wavelengths of the first reverse polarized area on the Sun for this decade. Please click the thumbnails below to see the full images in the archive. Thanks to all contributors for another great rotation.
Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers
Assistant Coordinator, the ALPOSS

January 3, 2020

An Analysis of the current Solar Minimum so far
ALPOSS Assistant Coordinator Theo Ramakers continues his analysis of the transition from Cycle 24 to Cycle 25 with a look at how the current minimum stacks up to others in the past. The paper, in part, mirrors the presentation given during the ALPO meeting this summer in Barnesville. Streaks of spotless days from the previous minimum are compared to those of the current minimum. The duration of the different cycles are compared all the way back to Cycle 12. In addition, the frequency of active region areas above 1000 millionths are compared between cycles, as well as the time between the last of such region in a cycle, and the first one in the following, spanning all the way across the minimum. Click here or on the image below to see the paper, or load the paper as a pdf file.

December 31, 2019

A Report on Carrington Rotations 2216 through 2220

ALPOSS Coordinator and Scientific Advisor Richard Hill continues his reports 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: CR2216 thru CR2222. This report covers the period from 2018-04-08 1911 UT, thru 2018-08-22 2136 UT, and is based on over 1332 image and observation submissions by numerous contributors to the Solar Observations Archive using the designated email address solar@alpo-astronomy.org . The report was published in the 2020 Winter 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 clicking on the picture below.

December 14, 2019

A Short Summary of Carrington Rotation 2224

Carrington Rotation CR2224 covered the time period from 2019-11-12 1744 UT – 2019-12-10 0116 UT.
Because of the general bad observing conditions, the number of submitted images went considerably down. At the time of this writing 126 images were submitted for the archives. The submissions can be viewed in ALPO’s Solar Archive for CR2224 which can be accessed at:
http://alpo-astronomy.org/gallery3/index.php/Solar-Observations-Archive/SolarImages2019/CR2224
The rotation brought us one very short active region AR2752 on the 13th, when SWPC reported it only in their midday report . The Region was registered with a size of zero millionths. AR2752 ended a spotless streak of 10 days. The Rotation continued the transition from C24 to C25 with a number of reverse polarized areas, which are now up to 91 since Solar Max. See our .pdf of the Reverse Polarized Areas Overview, which includes the latest updates by clicking here. Overall Solar Activity remained Very Low and the rotation increased the spotless days count since solar maximum to 629. Finally, SWPC reported the same number of flares as in the last rotation: 3 A-class, 1 B, and no C-class flares.
This time we would like to feature 3 Ha images submitted by Guilherme Grassmann, Howard Eskildsen, and Theo Ramakers. Please click the thumbnails below to see the full image in the archive. Thanks to all contributors for another great rotation.
Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers
Assistant Coordinator, the ALPOSS

December 2, 2019

A report on CR2210 through CR2215

ALPOSS Coordinator and Scientific Advisor Richard Hill continues his reports 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: CR2210 thru CR2215. This report covers the period from 2018-10-26 2051 UT, thru 2019-04-08 1911 UT . The reports are based on over 1212 image and observation submissions by numerous contributors to the Solar Observations Archive. The report was published in the 2019 Autumn 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 clicking on the picture below.

November 17, 2019

A Short Summary of Carrington Rotation 2223

Carrington Rotation CR2223 covered the time period from 2019-10-16 1033 UT – 2019-11-12 1744 UT.
At the time of this writing 207 Images/Observations were submitted for the archives, including 54 images of the Mercury transit. The submissions can be viewed in ALPO’s Solar Archive for CR2223, which also contains a folder for images of the Mercury Transit:
http://alpo-astronomy.org/gallery3/index.php/Solar-Observations-Archive/SolarImages2019/CR2223
The rotation brought us two, one day active regions, AR2750 and AR2751 each with a size of 10 millionths, but a Wolf Number of 11 and 13. AR2750 ended a spotless streak of 29 days. The Rotation continued the transition from C24 to C25 with a number of reverse polarized areas. See our .pdf of the Reverse Polarized Areas Overview which includes the latest updates by clicking here. Overall Solar Activity remained Very Low and the rotation increased the spotless days count since solar maximum to 602. Finally, the Sun produced 3 A-class, 1 B, and no C-class flares during the rotation.
This time we would like to feature an image submitted by Dave Tyler, Frank Melillo, and a composite by Howard Eskildsen. Please click the thumbnails below to see the full image in the archive. Thanks to all contributors for another great rotation.
Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers
Assistant Coordinator, the ALPOSS

October 20, 2019

A Short Summary of Carrington Rotation 2222

Carrington Rotation CR2222 covered the time period from 2019-09-19 0347 UT – 2019-10-16 1033 UT.
At the time of this writing 179 Images/Observations were submitted for the archives, which does not include observations of those who submit their images at the end of the month. The submissions can be viewed in ALPO’s Solar Archive for CR2222:
http://alpo-astronomy.org/gallery3/index.php/Solar-Observations-Archive/SolarImages2019/CR2222
The rotation brought us one short lived active region, AR2749 with a Wolf Number of 11, which lasted two days. However, SWPC recorded it size as 0 millionths. During the rotation we had 25 spotless days . The Rotation continued the transition from C24 to C25 with a number of reverse polarized areas. See our .pdf of the Reverse Polarized Areas Overview which includes the latest updates by clicking here. Overall Solar Activity remained Very Low and the rotation increased the spotless days count since solar maximum to 577. Finally, the Sun produced 4 A-class, 1 B, and no C-class flares during the rotation.
This time we would like to feature an image submitted by Guilherme Grassman, a drawing by Michel Deconinck, and a CaK image by Howard Eskildsen, of AR2749. Please click the thumbnails below to see the full image. Thanks to all contributors for another great rotation. Please take a look at all the drawings/images by clicking on the link above which will bring you to our archive for CR2222.
Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers
Assistant Coordinator, the ALPOSS