Solar Section        

October 11, 2018

A Short Summary of Carrington Rotation 2208

Carrington Rotation 2208 covered the time period from 2018-09-02 0729 UT – 2018-09-29 1355 UT.
Image submissions decreased from 334 in the previous rotation to 231 Images/Observations. The probable cause was the reduced number of Active Regions and the large increase of spotless days. The submissions can be viewed in ALPO’s Solar Archive for CR2208:

http://alpo-astronomy.org/gallery3/index.php/Solar-Observations-Archive/SolarImages2018/CR2208

This rotation stood out for its very low activity both in flares that were produced, as well as the low number and size of Active Regions. We had two regions of two days each. The highest Daily Active Region Area for the rotation is 10 millionths, and the highest daily spot count for the rotation was 6 for a Wolf number of 16, which happened on 9/9. We had another 23 spotless days for the rotation dropping by 2 from the previous rotation. The Sun’s flare activity decreased a bit compared to the previous rotation. During the rotation, the sun produced a total of only 4 A-class flares and 1 B-class flares. Overall Solar Activity remained Very Low and the rotation ended with Spotless Day 299.
This time we would like to feature some images submitted by two of our observers, Frank Melilo, Raffaello Braga, and graph showing the progression of Total Active Region Areas for Rotations and Number of spotless days by Rotations since 2014 (Source Theo Ramakers). Please click the thumbnails below to see the full image and graph. Thanks 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 CR2208.
Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers
Assistant Coordinator, the ALPOSS

September 22, 2018

A Short Summary of Carrington Rotation 2207

Carrington Rotation 2207 covered the time period from 2018-08-06 0143 UT – 2018-09-02 0729 UT.
Image submissions increased substantial to 327 Images/Observations. The probable cause was the increase in Active Regions and number of days sunspots were visible. The submissions can be viewed in ALPO’s Solar Archive for CR2207:

http://alpo-astronomy.org/gallery3/index.php/Solar-Observations-Archive/SolarImages2018/CR2207

Following the large number of spotless days in the previous 2 months, CR2207 was interesting. Not only caused by the increase in spots, but also the attention AR2720 received because of its reverse polarization shown in the magnetogram, suggesting it might be a cycle 25 area. STCE disputed the claim by suggesting its very low altitude not fitting the “butterfly” pattern of spots during a solar cycle, and therefore it was a Cycle 24 spot. Never the less, the reverse polarization will be the hallmark of cycle 25 spots. The highest Daily Active Region Area for the rotation was 130 millionths and the total spot count for the rotation was 11 for a Wolf number of 31, both which happened on 8/26. The Sun’s flare activity also increased a bit compared to the previous very inactive rotation. During the rotation, the sun produced a total of 5 A-class flares and 11 B-class flares, of which 9 happened on 8/25. Overall, Solar Activity remained Very Low and the rotation ended with Spotless Day 276.

This time we would like to feature some images submitted by three of our observers, Frank Melilo, Howard Eskildsen, and Christian Viladrich. Please click the thumbnails below to see the full resolution. Thanks to them, as well as all other contributors for another great rotation. Please take a look at all the submitted drawings/images by clicking on the link above which links to our archive for CR2207.
Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers
Assistant Coordinator, the ALPOSS

September 9, 2018

A Short Summary of Carrington Rotation 2206

Carrington Rotation 2206 covered the time period from 2018-07-09 2038 UT – 2018-08-06 0143 UT.
195 Images/Observations were submitted at the time of this writing. The submissions can be viewed in ALPO’s Solar Archive for CR2206:

http://alpo-astronomy.org/gallery3/index.php/Solar-Observations-Archive/SolarImages2018/CR2206

CR2206 made its mark by only showing a small sunspot on three days, and conversely, it also marks the rotation that showed several long periods of spotless days. A period of 48 days spanning from CR2205 into CR2207, was mainly spot less, and only interrupted twice with a small Active Region. The first period went for 24 days when it was interrupted with a one day area AR2716. This was followed with a new period which lasted for 10 days. At this time a small two day area interrupted the stretch which then continued until 8/15. In summary, a streak of 48 days (spanning from rotation 2205, through 2206 into rotation 2207) was interrupted twice with a spot a little bigger than a pore of 10 millionths. Since the Active Regions were 10 millionths, the total Active Region Area for rotation is 30 millionths and the total spot count for the rotation is 3. This is the lowest for the current transition period since Solar Max. In addition, the Sun’s flare activity has also reduced compared to the previous rotation, and accounted for a total of only 2 A-class flares, as well as 8 B-class flares, leaving the overall Solar Activity Very Low. The rotation ended with Spotless Day 264 since Solar Max.

This time we would like to feature some images submitted by three of our observers, Frank Melilo, Guilherme Grassman, and an animation by Theo Ramakers. Please click the thumbnails below to see the full resolution and activate the animation. 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 CR2206.
Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers
Assistant Coordinator, the ALPOSS

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.