As the Sun Turns: Solar Minimums and Maximums

[Maria]

Yesterday evening (10:03 PM PDT) or early morning Universal Time (0503 UT), we had another solar event, which is reported and updated every 5 minutes at:
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/solar ... nt-reports

Magnitude was M1.5 at 0503 Universal Time. This was produced by the new actively flaring sunspot, 2420. Raw data below:

Event: 2270 beg. 0455UT max. 0503UT end: 0517UT G15 5 type: XRAY 1-8A Magn. M1.5 1.3E-02 Sunspot # 2420

Today, we had another significant solar flare, an M2.1 -- raw data produced below:
. . time: beg. max. . end . . . . . Type . . . Magnitude . . Sunspot #
2390 + 1732 1803 1829 G15 5 XRA 1-8A M2.1 4.5E-02 2415
2390 + 1754 1804 1817 SAG G RBR 2695 320
2390 + 1754 1804 1815 SAG G RBR 4995 240
2390 + 1756 1804 1811 SAG G RBR 8800 140
2390 1758 1759 1800 SAG G RBR 245 140
2390 1800 //// 1809 SAG C RSP 025-180 III/1
2390 + 1801 1804 1813 SAG G RBR 1415 200
2390 + 1807 1808 1813 SAG G RBR 410 240
2390 1807 1808 1808 SAG G RBR 610 100
2390 1816 //// 1822 PAL U RSP 025-039 II/1 1304

Here is a picture of the sunspots. Sunspot 2420 is just emerging on the left side.

For current and dynamic graphs and charts, please visit this link:
http://www.euphrosynoscafe.com/forum/vi ... 785#p65786

Here is a list of more graphs and charts:
http://www.euphrosynoscafe.com/forum/vi ... 126#p63955

And here are my favorite dynamic graphs using an algorithm to show current solar flares.
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/goes-x-ray-flux

[Maria]

Because of all the solar winds plus Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), we have been having auroras world wide for the past month, including a lot of red and purple ones.

Here is a lovely photo and explanation from
http://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php ... &year=2015

CME IMPACT SPARKS STRONG GEOMAGNETIC STORM: Arriving a full day earlier than expected, a CME hit Earth's magnetic field on Sept. 20th at approximately 0600 UT. The impact sparked a strong G3-class geomagnetic storm and bright auroras over high-latitude regions of North America. "It was a great light show," reports Todd Salat, who sends this picture from his backyard garden in Anchorage, Alaska:

[Maria]

After a week or so of doldrums and flatlining, the sun is active again with a double C spike starting at 1411 UT (7:11 AM PDT)

[Maria]

Yesterday, Oct. 15, 2015, we had an impulsive M1.1 flare at 2331 UT (4:31 PM PDT) -- the first in a while.

[Maria]

Early this morning in Britain or late this evening in Los Angeles (depending on where you are), we had another M1.1 flare at 0616 UT (11:16 PM PDT). The sharp rise and fall is indicative of a Magnetic Crochet or Impulsive solar flare. This kind of impulsive solar flare heats the atmosphere and can trigger strong weather patterns.

[Maria]

BEAUTIFUL ERUPTION: Earlier today, a massive and beautiful plume of plasma erupted near the sun's southeastern limb. The event could herald the approach of an active sunspot and an increase in solar activity this weekend. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory took this picture on Oct. 16th at 1300 UT [6 AM PDT[

http://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php ... &year=2015

This in from Belgium:

COMMENT: NOAA 2434 increased its sunspot area and developed a delta
structure in its leading portion. Its flaring frequency and intensity
increased with a total of 11 C-class flares and 2 impulsive M1.1 flares,
peaking resp. at 23:31UT and 06:16UT. Old active region NOAA 2420,
currently still behind the northeast limb, announced its return by
producing a C4.9 flare at 23:05UT. The leading portion of old active region
2422 has started to round the southeast limb. The other sunspot regions
have been quiet. Based on currently available coronagraphic imagery, no
earth-directed coronal mass ejections (CMEs) have been observed.

http://www.sidc.be/products/meu

[Maria]

Here is an image of the solar disk showing sunspot 2436 which has an beta-gamma-delta magnetic structure that could unleash M or X solar flares. It has been C flaring throughout the day.

Go to www.spaceweather.com and click the solar disk to the left. This will enlarge the image.