As the Sun Turns: Solar Minimums and Maximums

[Maria]

The new active region, AR2717, is officially a tiny Alpha. according to NOAA:

Issued: 2018 Aug 02 0030 UTC

Prepared jointly by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA,

Space Weather Prediction Center and the U.S. Air Force.

#
Joint USAF/NOAA Solar Region Summary
SRS Number 214 Issued at 0030Z on 02 Aug 2018
Report compiled from data received at SWO on 01 Aug
I. Regions with Sunspots. Locations Valid at 01/2400Z
Nmbr Location Lo Area Z LL NN Mag Type
2717 S07E29 025 0010 Axx 01 01 Alpha
IA. H-alpha Plages without Spots. Locations Valid at 01/2400Z Aug
Nmbr Location Lo
None
II. Regions Due to Return 02 Aug to 04 Aug
Nmbr Lat Lo
None

Meanwhile, the GOES X-ray flux remains in the doldrums averaging between A1 to A0, typical of a solar minimum.

[Maria]

Today is the second day that AR2717 has been seen at The Sun Today as a tiny alpha with a sunspot number of approximately 12 according to the Belgium Royal Observatory.

Currently, there is a flaring on the Eastern limb of the sun, which could indicate another active area. See the Sun Now: http://www.thesuntoday.org/the-sun-now/

In addition, the GOES X-ray flux shows increased solar activity. Is this due to the flaring on the Eastern limb or is this related to tiny AR2717?
Go to https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/goes-x-ray-flux to view the latest plot of solar activity.

[Maria]

Tonight, already August 3, 2018 in Belgium, NOAA reports that AR2717 still hangs on as an alpha, not growing, but persisting. See the report quoted below.

GOES X-ray flux shows slightly elevated solar activity in the A1-A2 range. cf. https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/goes-x-ray-flux

Fiery loops are now being seen on the Eastern Limb as a new active area approaches our view at The Sun Today, but a view of the HMI Continuum Flattened shows that AR2717 is now barely visible on an orange disk. Most likely, it will vanish in a few hours. Click to enlarge this image: https://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/assets/img/la ... _HMIIF.jpg

The EISN plot from Belgium's Royal Observatory shows a decrease in sunspot numbers.

Issued: 2018 Aug 03 0030 UTC

Prepared jointly by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA,

Space Weather Prediction Center and the U.S. Air Force.

#
Joint USAF/NOAA Solar Region Summary
SRS Number 215 Issued at 0030Z on 03 Aug 2018
Report compiled from data received at SWO on 02 Aug
I. Regions with Sunspots. Locations Valid at 02/2400Z
Nmbr Location Lo Area Z LL NN Mag Type
2717 S08E14 027 0010 Axx 00 01 Alpha
IA. H-alpha Plages without Spots. Locations Valid at 02/2400Z Aug
Nmbr Location Lo
None
II. Regions Due to Return 03 Aug to 05 Aug
Nmbr Lat Lo
None

[Maria]

Belgium's comments from the Royal Observatory are posted below. View the Sun Today to see this active region at the Eastern limb.
cf. http://www.thesuntoday.org/the-sun-now/

COMMENT: Solar activity was at very low levels. Region NOAA 2717 decayed,
leaving the Sun spotless. Another active region is just beyond the east
limb. This returning region was spotless during the previous rotation,
raising the 10.7cm radio flux with a few solar flux units. No earth-
directed coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were observed in available
coronagraphic imagery. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux was at nominal
levels.

Solar activity is expected to remain at very low levels.

Solar wind varied between 350 and 410 km/s (DSCOVR). Bz gradually changed
from values near +6 nT at the beginning of the period to -4 nT around 09UT.
The direction of the interplanetary magnetic field was variable, ending the
period in a positive sector (away from the Sun). Quiet to unsettled
geomagnetic conditions were observed.

Geomagnetic activity is expected to continue at quiet to unsettled levels
until 4 or 5 August when a weak wind stream associated with a small
negative polarity equatorial coronal hole (CH) may start influencing the
earth environment. An isolated active episode is then possible.

TODAY'S ESTIMATED ISN : 000, BASED ON 21 STATIONS.

[Maria]

AR2717 has now decayed to an H-alpha plage per NOAA.
The active region on the Eastern Limb consists primarily of white sunspots called faculae.
See The Sun Today for the latest pictures: https://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/assets/img/la ... _HMIIF.jpg

Issued: 2018 Aug 04 0030 UTC

Prepared jointly by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA,

Space Weather Prediction Center and the U.S. Air Force.

#
Joint USAF/NOAA Solar Region Summary
SRS Number 216 Issued at 0030Z on 04 Aug 2018
Report compiled from data received at SWO on 03 Aug
I. Regions with Sunspots. Locations Valid at 03/2400Z
Nmbr Location Lo Area Z LL NN Mag Type
None
IA. H-alpha Plages without Spots. Locations Valid at 03/2400Z Aug
Nmbr Location Lo
2717 S08W00 027
II. Regions Due to Return 04 Aug to 06 Aug
Nmbr Lat Lo
None

[Maria]

No sunspots are visible on the sun per Belgium's Royal Observatory.

COMMENT: Solar activity was at very low levels. The earth-facing solar
hemisphere was devoid of sunspots. No earth-directed coronal mass ejections
(CMEs) were observed in available coronagraphic imagery. The greater than
10 MeV proton flux was at nominal levels.

Solar activity is expected to remain at very low levels.

Solar wind speed varied between 370 and 410 km/s (DSCOVR). Bz was near
neutral values, except for the 22UT-04UT interval when it varied between -5
and + 4nT. The interplanetary magnetic field was predominately directed
away from the Sun (positive sector). Mostly quiet geomagnetic conditions
were observed, with a few unsettled episodes in Dourbes.

Geomagnetic activity is expected to continue at quiet to unsettled levels.
A weak wind stream associated with a small negative polarity equatorial
coronal hole (CH) may start influencing the earth environment late on 4 or
on 5 August. Another wind stream enhancement associated with a small
positive polarity equatorial CH may start influencing the earth environment
late on 6 or on 7 August. In response to these wind streams, an isolated
active episode is possible.

TODAY'S ESTIMATED ISN : 000, BASED ON 19 STATIONS.

[Luke]

The sun wants to maximize its minimum. :mrgreen: