The Association of Lunar and Planetary – Solar Section was formed in 1982 at the request of the founder and then Director, Walter Haas. We defined our observational goals then as being the coordination of optical observations of solar morphology. We do not count sunspots but use such statistics from several international sources all of whom do a far better job of it than we could. Our first 40 years have been highly successful with contributions from a number of countries filling our files today. Whatever telescope you have, with proper safe filtration, can make useful contributions to the work of the Section. So join the Solar Section get observing and as you observe you will learn about other instruments, techniques and filters from other more experienced observers.
Solar Blog
Farside Sunspot Rotates Into View
5/9/2026
A
large sunspot that recently hurled multiple coronal mass ejections (CMEs)
while on the farside of the Sun has now rotated into view over the eastern
limb. For the past 24 hours it has remained quiet, but its history of
activity means observers should stay alert: if it reawakens, Earth could
be in the direct path of solar storms.
The
arrival of this active region (circled in red) offers an excellent opportunity for amateur
solar observers to document its evolution. Careful monitoring of its
magnetic complexity and flare output will help provide valuable context
for both professional researchers and space weather forecasters. By
tracking their growth and decay, ALPO members contribute to a long-term
record of solar behavior while also helping the wider community anticipate
auroral displays and potential impacts here on Earth.
Stay
tuned for updates as this sunspot continues its transit across the solar
disk. Observers are encouraged to submit images and reports to the Solar
Section so we can build a comprehensive record of this region’s activity.
Summary for Carrrington Rotations CR2280 to CR2282 Available
11/1/2024
ALPO Solar Assistant Coordinator Kim Hay has generated a brief summary report for Carrington Rotations 2280 through 2282. It is available at the following link for your review.
Summary for Carrrington Rotations CR2277 to CR2279 Available
5/10/2024
ALPO Solar Assistant Coordinator Kim Hay has generated a brief summary report for Carrington Rotations 2277 through 2279. It is available at the following link for your review.
Solar News Headlines
The Sun May Have Swallowed a Planet
9/21/2026
New research suggests the Sun may have engulfed a super Earth early in the Solar System's formation. Professor Mutlu Yildiz modeled solar evolution to explain two persistent anomalies: the Sun's unusually depleted lithium levels and discrepancies in the speed of sound near its convection zone. Models indicate that a rocky, lithium poor planet roughly 5.6 times the size of Earth could have spiraled into the young Sun, simultaneously solving both mysteries about our star's internal structure
Read More
To Understand the Solar Cycle, Notice How the Sun Sleeps
9/21/2026
While the Sun follows an 11 year cycle of active and dormant periods, predicting the intensity of solar maximums remains challenging. Astronomer Sandra Chapman's recent research reveals a sharp cutoff point during the declining phase of solar activity. The number of sunspots present at this quiet moment strongly correlates with the strength of the subsequent cycle. This cutoff for Cycle 25 is expected around 2028, providing clues for Cycle 26's peak in the 2030s.
Read More
Observation Spotlight
Featured Solar Section Image
Observer: Theo Ramakers
Equipment: tellarvue 90 (WL) and Coronado SolarMax-40 (Ha)
Here we see AR 4419, one of the larger sunspot regions captured on 2026-04-20 by long time solar observer Theo Ramakers of Oxford, GA. This is very typical of the larger groups being seen on the post-maximum Sun right now.
Equipment: tellarvue 90 (WL) and Coronado SolarMax-40 (Ha)
Here we see AR 4419, one of the larger sunspot regions captured on 2026-04-20 by long time solar observer Theo Ramakers of Oxford, GA. This is very typical of the larger groups being seen on the post-maximum Sun right now.
Event Calendar
2026-10-23 07:35 UT
Carrington Rotation 2317 Begins
2026-11-19 14:50 UT
Carrington Rotation 2318 Begins
2026-12-16 22:30 UT
Carrington Rotation 2319 Begins
WL Image from SpaceWeather.com
