As the Sun Turns: Solar Minimums and Maximums

[Luke]

And finally, returning sunspot group AR2665 has been renamed as Beta AR2670.

Below was the most recent significant flaring of AR2670. The B9.4 class solar flare peaked at 2359 UT August 2, and then continued its decline into August 3rd.

From NOAA:

1530 + 2353 2359 0004 G15 5 XRA 1-8A B9.4 3.6E-04 2670

Another posting from NOAA, this time acknowledging the newly renamed sunspot AR2670:

I. Regions with Sunspots. Locations Valid at 02/2400Z
Nmbr Location Lo Area Z LL NN Mag Type
2670 S05E58 119 0160 Cso 04 02 Beta
IA. H-alpha Plages without Spots. Locations Valid at 02/2400Z Aug
Nmbr Location Lo
2669 N18W79 257

http://legacy-www.swpc.noaa.gov/ftpdir/ ... 803SRS.txt

Good to have an 'ol friend back, huh?

[Maria]

And finally, returning sunspot group AR2665 has been renamed as Beta AR2670.

Below was the most recent significant flaring of AR2670. The B9.4 class solar flare peaked at 2359 UT August 2, and then continued its decline into August 3rd.

From NOAA:

1530 + 2353 2359 0004 G15 5 XRA 1-8A B9.4 3.6E-04 2670

Another posting from NOAA, this time acknowledging the newly renamed sunspot AR2670:

I. Regions with Sunspots. Locations Valid at 02/2400Z
Nmbr Location Lo Area Z LL NN Mag Type
2670 S05E58 119 0160 Cso 04 02 Beta
IA. H-alpha Plages without Spots. Locations Valid at 02/2400Z Aug
Nmbr Location Lo
2669 N18W79 257

http://legacy-www.swpc.noaa.gov/ftpdir/ ... 803SRS.txt

Good to have an 'ol friend back, huh?

I just hope the old friend remains docile and does not unleash a temper tantrum.

[Maria]

And finally, returning sunspot group AR2665 has been renamed as Beta AR2670.

Below was the most recent significant flaring of AR2670. The B9.4 class solar flare peaked at 2359 UT August 2, and then continued its decline into August 3rd.

From NOAA:

1530 + 2353 2359 0004 G15 5 XRA 1-8A B9.4 3.6E-04 2670

Another posting from NOAA, this time acknowledging the newly renamed sunspot AR2670:

I. Regions with Sunspots. Locations Valid at 02/2400Z
Nmbr Location Lo Area Z LL NN Mag Type
2670 S05E58 119 0160 Cso 04 02 Beta
IA. H-alpha Plages without Spots. Locations Valid at 02/2400Z Aug
Nmbr Location Lo
2669 N18W79 257

http://legacy-www.swpc.noaa.gov/ftpdir/ ... 803SRS.txt

Good to have an 'ol friend back, huh?

AR2670 was kind and gentle. No noticeable eruptions during its transit across the face of the sun.

However, another Active Region (AR2671) is rotating into view on the East limb of the sun, and is now visible. It is small, but will it expand in the next few days or decay?

Here are the current solar flares that it has produced with no CMEs witnessed. The last eruption was at 7:45 AM PST this morning per NOAA at http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/goes-x-ray-flux

Edited Events for 2017 Aug 14
#
#Event Begin Max End Obs Q Type Loc/Frq Particulars Reg#
#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1650 0205 0213 0216 G13 5 XRA 1-8A C1.8 5.3E-04

1660 0339 0348 0355 G13 5 XRA 1-8A B6.4 3.8E-04

1670 0525 0551 0611 G13 5 XRA 1-8A B7.5 1.1E-03
1670 0557 //// 0557 SVI U RSP 030-075 III/1

1680 0821 0826 0831 G13 5 XRA 1-8A B3.2 1.3E-04

1690 0923 0927 0937 G13 5 XRA 1-8A B1.3 9.3E-05

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

Here is a recent view of the sun as seen by SDO: Currently this sunspot is fairly large.
https://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/assets/img/la ... _HMIIF.jpg

[Maria]

We just had a C1.1 that peaked at 9:24 AM PDT.

The highest solar flare produced so far was a C2.7 at 10:46 UT (3:46 AM PDT) today.

Could this new Active Region be the returning sunspot AR2669?

From July 29, 2017, it was last seen at N18.

I. Regions with Sunspots. Locations Valid at 29/2400Z (July 29 at 2400 UT)
Nmbr Location Lo Area Z LL NN Mag Type
2669 N18W25 256 0005 Bxo 03 02 Beta

[Maria]

We just had a C1.1 that peaked at 9:24 AM PDT.

The highest solar flare produced so far was a C2.7 at 10:46 UT (3:46 AM PDT) today.

Could this new Active Region be the returning sunspot AR2669?

From July 29, 2017, it was last seen at N18.

I. Regions with Sunspots. Locations Valid at 29/2400Z (July 29 at 2400 UT)
Nmbr Location Lo Area Z LL NN Mag Type
2669 N18W25 256 0005 Bxo 03 02 Beta

Could this be returning sunspot area Beta AR2669?

Look at the locations given. AR2671 has increased from N10, to N11, to N12 in the last several hours. Could it each N18 as it traverses the solar disk. Probably not likely.

1760 1430 1430 1643 HOL 3 FLA N10E84 SF 2671

1730 1442 1445 1447 G13 5 XRA 1-8A B2.8 4.3E-05

1740 1531 1548 1612 SVI 3 FLA N11E82 SF 2671

1750 1620 1624 1627 G13 5 XRA 1-8A C1.1 2.3E-04 2671
1750 1622 1627 1632 SVI 3 FLA N12E78 SF 2671

1770 1818 1822 1827 G13 5 XRA 1-8A B3.7 1.3E-04

1780 1900 1905 1909 G13 5 XRA 1-8A B4.1 1.5E-04

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

Also with the increase in intensity in the solar flaring, I predict that we could have a high C-class solar flare or even an M-class flare either today or tomorrow. Look at the base line in the GOES X-ray Flux. It is gradually rising. This rising pattern or a sustained rise is often seen just before an Active Region unleashes an M-Class solar flare.

08-14-2017_C-flaring_AR2671_goes-xray-flux.gif (11.74 KiB) Viewed 1512 times

From what I have seen at The Sun Now, it appears as if AR2671 might be developing a beta configuration.

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

[Maria]

http://www.spaceweather.com posted this video of a C-Class Solar Flare from newly emerged AR2671:

SOLAR FLARE ACTIVITY: Suddenly, the eastern limb of the sun is crackling with minor solar flares, heralding the approach of a new sunspot. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded this C1-class explosion during the early hours of Aug. 14th:

http://sdowww.lmsal.com/sdomedia/h264/2 ... N09E89.mov

During Solar Maximum, such a solar flare would be considered too minor to report. Now, however, the sun is close to Solar Minimum, so even a C-flare is noteworthy. In fact, it is noteworthy. A typical C-class solar flare releases as much energy as 1 billion WWII atomic bombs. ....

The sun spat, but missed us this time.

[Maria]

AR2671 is definitely not the former AR2669.
Below is the NOAA reports of recent solar activities.

# Edited Events for 2017 Aug 15
#
#Event Begin Max End Obs Q Type Loc/Frq Particulars Reg#
#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1850 0208 0215 0217 G13 5 XRA 1-8A C1.0 2.6E-04 2671

1860 0424 0431 0433 G13 5 XRA 1-8A B8.7 1.6E-04 2671

1870 0500 0507 0509 G13 5 XRA 1-8A B7.1 1.8E-04 2671
1870 0504 0506 0510 SVI 3 FLA N11E77 SF ERU 2671

1880 0516 0537 0649 SVI 3 FLA N11E73 SF ERU 2671

1890 0707 0707 0711 SVI 3 FLA N11E73 SF ERU 2671

1900 0743 0744 0749 SVI 3 FLA N11E73 SF ERU 2671

1910 0751 0755 0759 G13 5 XRA 1-8A B2.5 7.7E-05 2671
1910 0755 0756 0758 SVI 3 FLA N11E73 SF ERU 2671

1920 0850 0851 0853 SVI 3 FLA N11E73 SF ERU 2671

1930 0854 0855 0901 SVI 3 FLA N11E73 SF ERU 2671

1940 0907 0913 0920 SVI 3 FLA N11E73 SF ERU 2671

1950 0934 0935 0941 SVI 3 FLA N11E72 SF ERU 2671

1960 0951 0953 0955 SVI 3 FLA N11E72 SF ERU 2671

1970 0958 1005 1012 G13 5 XRA 1-8A B4.1 2.6E-04 2671
1970 + 1008 1008 1014 SVI 3 FLA N10E67 SF ERU 2671

1980 1018 1018 1018 SVI 3 FLA N10E67 SF ERU 2671

1990 1022 1022 1024 SVI 3 FLA N10E72 SF ERU 2671

2000 1045 1051 1058 G13 5 XRA 1-8A B3.2 1.7E-04 2671
2000 1049 1050 1055 SVI 3 FLA N11E72 SF ERU 2671

2010 1106 1111 1114 G13 5 XRA 1-8A B3.4 1.1E-04 2671
2010 1108 1114 1118 SVI 3 FLA N12E73 SF ERU 2671

2020 1120 1126 1130 G13 5 XRA 1-8A B5.7 2.3E-04 2671
2020 1129 1129 1130 SVI 3 FLA N12E73 SF ERU 2671

2030 1145 1149 1151 G13 5 XRA 1-8A B8.5 1.2E-04 2671
2030 1149 1149 1158 SVI 3 FLA N11E73 SF ERU 2671

2040 1200 1205 1209 SVI 3 FLA N11E73 SF ERU 2671

2050 1220 1352 1450 G13 5 XRA 1-8A C1.1 6.5E-03 2671
2050 1222 1226 1236 SVI 3 FLA N10E68 SF ERU 2671

2060 1326 1327 1328 HOL 1 FLA N09E70 SF DSD 2671

2070 1333 1336 1342 SVI 3 FLA N10E69 SF ERU 2671
2070 + 1341 //// 1513 SVI C RSP 075-171 CTM/1 2671

2080 1345 1345 1345 SAG G RBR 245 110

2110 1345 1358 1400 SVI G RNS 245 130

2090 1430 1446 1528 HOL 3 FLA N11E66 SF 2671
2090 1451 1452 1455 SVI 3 FLA N10E64 SF ERU 2671

2100 1611 1615 1617 G13 5 XRA 1-8A B8.3 1.6E-04 2671
2100 1613 U1648 1651 SVI 3 FLA N09E55 SF ERU 2671

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

Notice the active flaring regions come from N09, N10, N11, and N12.

Then take a gander at the latest image of the sun. This new sunspot AR2671 is rapidly expanding with new active sunspot areas located in different areas. I would not be surprised if AR2671 strongly burps and delivers an M-class solar flare in the next day or so.

solar image _08-15-2017_AR2671 expanding.jpg (15.09 KiB) Viewed 1513 times

Here is an enlarged image, but you must click the link to view it.
https://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/assets/img/la ... _HMIIF.jpg