As the Sun Turns: Solar Minimums and Maximums

[Maria]

The Spaceweather picture looks interesting today: http://www.spaceweather.com/images2017/ ... m8f0ann693

Yes, the former AR2673 (now AR2682) viewed at present is rapidly developing. It is now an impressive Beta with lots of trailing sunspots.
While both AR2682 and AR2683 are becoming larger in size, AR2681 appears to be decaying and may disappear into a plage.
https://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/assets/img/la ... _HMIIF.jpg

Joint USAF/NOAA Solar Region Summary
SRS Number 272 Issued at 0030Z on 29 Sep 2017
Report compiled from data received at SWO on 28 Sep
I. Regions with Sunspots. Locations Valid at 28/2400Z
Nmbr Location Lo Area Z LL NN Mag Type
2681 S14W35 180 0070 Hsx 02 01 Alpha
2682 S09E21 124 0130 Cao 11 07 Beta
2683 N14E26 119 0280 Hkx 05 02 Alpha

reference: http://legacy-www.swpc.noaa.gov/ftpdir/ ... 929SRS.txt

[Maria]

From the Royal Observatory of Belgium
http://www.sidc.be/products/meu/

Over the past 24 hours solar activity has been low. No significant
flares have been recorded. Catania group 55 (NOAA AR region 2681) has been
most active, producing one B2.9 flare peaking at 14:34 UT yesterday
(29-Sep-2017). No Earth directed Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) have been
detected in coronograph observations. The greater than 10MeV proton flux
remained at background levels over the past 24 hours. Solar activity is
expected to remain low over the next 24 hours with some probability of
C-class flares

Even though small, AR2681 is mighty. However, AR2682 and AR2683 remain impressive
in their size relative to AR2681, which appears to be so small in comparison.

view: https://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/assets/img/la ... _HMIIF.jpg

[Maria]

Former mega sunspot AR2673 (now AR2682) is the only region that is actively flaring.
And notice that it is now geo-centered. This means that if it erupts and emits a CME, it could be earth-directed.

# Edited Events for 2017 Sep 29
#
#Event Begin Max End Obs Q Type Loc/Frq Particulars Reg#
#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

290 0416 //// 0416 LEA C RSP 025-085 III/1

300 + 1325 1331 1338 G15 5 XRA 1-8A B2.2 1.3E-04 2682
300 + 1335 //// 1336 SVI C RSP 025-046 III/1

310 + 1428 1432 1437 G15 5 XRA 1-8A B2.5 9.5E-05 2682
310 1430 1431 1444 HOL 3 FLA S12E16 SF DSD 2682

Source: http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/solar ... nt-reports

[Maria]

Joint USAF/NOAA Solar Region Summary
SRS Number 273 Issued at 0030Z on 30 Sep 2017
Report compiled from data received at SWO on 29 Sep
I. Regions with Sunspots. Locations Valid at 29/2400Z
Nmbr Location Lo Area Z LL NN Mag Type
2681 S14W48 180 0070 Hsx 02 01 Alpha
2682 S09E08 124 0120 Cao 09 06 Beta
2683 N14E21 111 0270 Hkx 04 02 Alpha

reference: http://legacy-www.swpc.noaa.gov/ftpdir/ ... 929SRS.txt

Beta 2682 is now geo-centered, and has been actively flaring.

[Maria]

From the Royal Observatory of Belgium: http://www.sidc.be/products/meu/

Over the past 24 hours solar activity has been low. No significant
flares have been recorded. Catania group 56 (NOAA AR region 2682) increased
its magnetic complexity and produced two B class flares peaking at 13:31
and 14:32 UT yesterday (29-Sep-2017). No Earth directed Coronal Mass
Ejections (CMEs) have been detected in coronograph observations. Integral
proton flux for protons with energies above 10 MeV remained at background
level over the past 24 hours. Solar activity is expected to remain low over
the next 24 hours with some probability of C-class flares.
The Earth remains under influence of the fast solar wind stream. The solar
wind speed is slowly decreasing from 640 km/s till 510 km/s over the past
24 hours. The interplanetary magnetic field magnitude remained between 4
and 5 nT, and the Bz component fluctuating between -4.5 and 4.5 nT being
mainly negative.

[Maria]

The recent solar images show that all three active regions are decaying, so the sun is relatively quiet with only one or two B flares during one day.

For a variety of solar imaging, please visit http://www.thesuntoday.org/the-sun-now/

Here is the recent NOAA report: http://legacy-www.swpc.noaa.gov/ftpdir/ ... 001SRS.txt

Joint USAF/NOAA Solar Region Summary
SRS Number 274 Issued at 0030Z on 01 Oct 2017
Report compiled from data received at SWO on 30 Sep
I. Regions with Sunspots. Locations Valid at 30/2400Z
Nmbr Location Lo Area Z LL NN Mag Type
2681 S14W61 180 0060 Hsx 02 01 Alpha
2682 S11W05 124 0110 Cso 09 05 Beta
2683 N13E08 111 0270 Hkx 04 02 Alpha

[Maria]

This just in from NOAA: All three Active Regions are not so active. They have all decayed. Signs of a normal solar minimum.

Joint USAF/NOAA Solar Region Summary
SRS Number 275 Issued at 0030Z on 02 Oct 2017
Report compiled from data received at SWO on 01 Oct
I. Regions with Sunspots. Locations Valid at 01/2400Z
Nmbr Location Lo Area Z LL NN Mag Type
2681 S14W74 180 0060 Hsx 02 01 Alpha
2682 S11W18 124 0100 Hsx 03 01 Alpha
2683 N13W05 111 0270 Hkx 04 02 Alpha