Solar Section        

February 16, 2019

A Short Summary of Carrington Rotation 2213

Carrington Rotation 2213 covered the time period from 2019-01-16 1954 UT – 2019-02-13 0406 UT .
210 Images/Observations were submitted for the archives. The submissions can be viewed in ALPO’s Solar Archive for CR2213:

http://alpo-astronomy.org/gallery3/index.php/Solar-Observations-Archive/SolarImages2019/CR2213

The rotation showed one Active Region, AR2733, which lasted for 9 days. 19 Days no sunspots were observed. The highest Daily Active Region Area for the rotation was 90 millionths on, January 28, January 30, and January 31, while the total active region areas for the rotation was 560 millionths. The highest Wolf number for the rotation was 27 on January 27.  Four reversed polarized areas (cycle 25) were observed during the period. The first one on February 6th and the remaining 3 on the last three days of the rotation.  Our archive shows three images that show the mentioned regions. Overall Solar Activity remained Very Low and the rotation ended with spotless day 393.  During the rotation the Sun produced  41 C-class and 5  B-class flares.

This time we would like to feature some images submitted by three of our observers, Gabriel Corban, as well as Talha Moon Zia with a nice collage of AR2733 and David Teske’s drawing. Please click the thumbnails below to see the full images. 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 CR2213.
Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers
Assistant Coordinator, the ALPOSS

January 28, 2019

A Short Summary of Carrington Rotation 2212

Carrington Rotation 2212 covered the time period from 2019-12-20 1152 UT – 2019-01-16 1954 UT .
217 Images/Observations were submitted for the archives. The submissions can be viewed in ALPO’s Solar Archive for CR2212:

http://alpo-astronomy.org/gallery3/index.php/Solar-Observations-Archive/SolarImages2018/CR2212

The rotation showed one Active Region, AR2732, which lasted for 6 days. For 21 days no sunspots were observed. The highest Daily Active Region Area for the rotation was 90 millionths on January 4 while the total active region areas for the rotation was only 200 millionths. The highest Wolf number for the rotation was 16 also on January 4. Two small areas showing Cycle 25 polarization could be seen on December 27 in Eskildsen’s CaK images at a latitude of North 46 degrees as well as on January 2nd at a latitude of South 28. Because of their sizes, the regions were not named. Overall Solar Activity remained Very Low and the rotation ended with Spotless Day 374, one C-class and 10 B-class flares.

This time we would like to feature some images submitted by three of our observers, Dave Tyler’s close up of AR2732, as well as Guilherme Grassman and Howard Eskildsen’s CaK images. Please click the thumbnails below to see the full images. 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 CR2212.
Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers
Assistant Coordinator, the ALPOSS

January 12, 2019

A Short Summary of Carrington Rotation 2211

Carrington Rotation 2211 covered the time period from 2018-11-23 0411 UT – 2018-12-20 1152 UT.
192 Images/Observations were submitted for the archives. The submissions can be viewed in ALPO’s Solar Archive for CR2211:

http://alpo-astronomy.org/gallery3/index.php/Solar-Observations-Archive/SolarImages2018/CR2211

The rotation had four Active Regions, AR2728 which lasted two days, AR2729 five, AR2730 one, and finally AR2731 with two days. For 17 days no sunspots were observed. The highest Daily Active Region Area for the rotation was 60 millionths on December 7th while the total active region areas for the rotation was only 230 millionths. The highest Wolf number for the rotation was 16 on December 8th. During the rotation, an area showing Cycle 25 polarization could nicely be seen on December 16th in Eskildsen’s CaK image at a latitude of South 20 degrees. Because of its short life, the region was not named. Overall Solar Activity remained Very Low and the rotation ended with Spotless Day 352 and no C-, M- or X-class flares.

This time we would like to feature some images submitted by three of our observers, Frank Melillo, Guilherme Grassman, and Howard Eskildsen’s CaK image with the December 16th Cycle 25 polarized area. Please click the thumbnails below to see the full images. 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 CR2211.
Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers
Assistant Coordinator, the ALPOSS

December 17, 2018

ALPOSS – A report on Carrington Rotation CR2202 through CR2205

After a break in the fall issue of the JALPO, 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: CR2202 thru CR2205. This report covers the period from 2018-03-22 2229 UT, thru 2018-07-09 2038 UT. The reports are based on over 882 image and observation submissions by numerous contributors to the Solar Observations Archive. The report was published in the 2019 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 7, 2018

A Short Summary of Carrington Rotation 2210

Carrington Rotation 2210 covered the time period from 2018-10-26 2051 UT – 2018-11-23 0411 UT.
At the time of this writing 263 Images/Observations were submitted for CR2210. All submissions can be viewed in:
ALPO’s Solar Archive for CR2210: http://alpo-astronomy.org/gallery3/index.php/Solar-Observations-Archive/SolarImages2018/CR2210
The rotation was mostly spotless while accumulating 19 spotless days, but had two named active regions, AR2726 which lasted three days, and AR2727 with 5 days. The highest Daily Active Region Area for the rotation was 60 millionths on November 18 and 19 during AR2727. The highest Wolf number for the rotation was 14 on November 17 and 19. During the rotation, two areas showing Cycle 25 polarization could be seen in SDO’s magnetogram in the higher Northern latitudes. The first one from November 8th through 10th. The second for a number of hours on November 17th. Based on its naming requirements, SWPC did not name either of these areas, but SILSO took exception and did count them as spots. During the rotation, the sun produced a total of 6 A-class flares of which the largest was an A 5.3 class flare. Overall Solar Activity remained Very Low and the rotation ended with Spotless Day 335.
At this point I would like to clarify some statistics. Several organizations keep records of sunspots and the Sunspot Number. ALPO-Astronomy does not. My research, which I cite in these short reviews, contains data derived from published data from SWPC, which is a division of NOAA. This division is responsible for naming Active Regions (numbering). SILSO and the Solar-Terrestrial Center for Excellence are organizations tasked with the creation and dissemination of the Sunspot Number. They are connected to the Royal Observatory in Brussels Belgium. In addition, several other and country based organizations maintain their local Sunspot Numbers. Since I use other data than the Wolf Number such as active region areas and flares, I base my statistics on the raw data supplied by SWPC daily. One of them is their SRS reports which are published daily at 0030 UT. This is the reason why my sunspot related statistics may differ from others cited elsewhere.
This time we would like to feature some images submitted by three of our observers Guilherme Grassman, Howard Eskildsen with the November 8th Cycle 25 spot, and Theo Ramakers with the November 17th Cycle 25 area in Ha. Please click the thumbnails below to see the full images. 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 CR2210.
Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers
Assistant Coordinator, the ALPOSS

November 7, 2018

A Short Summary of Carrington Rotation 2209

Carrington Rotation 2209 covered the time period from 2018-09-29 1355 UT- 2018-10-26 2051 UT.
Image submissions decreased to 196 Images/Observations. The submissions can be viewed in ALPO’s Solar Archive for CR2209:

http://alpo-astronomy.org/gallery3/index.php/Solar-Observations-Archive/SolarImages2018/CR2209

We had an opportunity to observe three active regions with a total of 6 spots. The highest Daily Active Region Area for the rotation was 30 millionths on October 1, 2 and 3. The highest Wolf number for the rotation was 22 on October 14 and 15, which was made up of two small areas AR2724 and AR2725 which measured 10 millionths only each. The rotation ended accounting for 16 spotless days and a Total Rotation Active Region Area of 180 millionths. During the rotation, the sun produced a total of 1 A-class flare, and 4 B-class flares, three of which happened in AR2724 and the highest measuring an B7.1 on October 12. At this time in the solar cycle with the lack of spots, observers focus more on filaments, prominences, faculae and plages. Overall Solar Activity remained Very Low and the rotation ended with Spotless Day 315.
This time we would like to feature some drawings submitted by two of our observers, Joe Gianninoto and David Teske, and image of a NE prominence by Howard Eskildsen. Please click the thumbnails below to see the full images. 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 CR2209.
Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers
Assistant Coordinator, the ALPOSS

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