As the Sun Turns: Solar Minimums and Maximums

[Maria]

From NOAA

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Joint USAF/NOAA Solar Region Summary
SRS Number 269 Issued at 0030Z on 26 Sep 2017
Report compiled from data received at SWO on 25 Sep
I.  Regions with Sunspots.  Locations Valid at 25/2400Z 
Nmbr Location  Lo  Area  Z   LL   NN Mag Type
[b]2681 S12E04[/b]   179  0100 Cso  03   03 Beta  

[b]2682 S10E59  [/b] 126  0200 Hax  03   01 Alpha [Former AR2673]
[b]2683 N11E76[/b]   109  0260 Hkx  03   02 Alpha [Former AR2674]
IA. H-alpha Plages without Spots.  Locations Valid at 25/2400Z Sep
Nmbr  Location  Lo
None
II. Regions Due to Return 26 Sep to 28 Sep
Nmbr Lat    Lo
None

One of these three sunspots is responsible for an impulsive C1.8 solar flare at 2017-09-26 02:34:00 UTC (7:34 PM PDT).

[Maria]

From NOAA

Code: Select all

Joint USAF/NOAA Solar Region Summary
SRS Number 269 Issued at 0030Z on 26 Sep 2017
Report compiled from data received at SWO on 25 Sep
I.  Regions with Sunspots.  Locations Valid at 25/2400Z 
Nmbr Location  Lo  Area  Z   LL   NN Mag Type
[b]2681 S12E04[/b]   179  0100 Cso  03   03 Beta  

[b]2682 S10E59  [/b] 126  0200 Hax  03   01 Alpha [Former AR2673]
[b]2683 N11E76[/b]   109  0260 Hkx  03   02 Alpha [Former AR2674]
IA. H-alpha Plages without Spots.  Locations Valid at 25/2400Z Sep
Nmbr  Location  Lo
None
II. Regions Due to Return 26 Sep to 28 Sep
Nmbr Lat    Lo
None

One of these three sunspots is responsible for an impulsive C1.8 solar flare at 2017-09-26 02:34:00 UTC (7:34 PM PDT).

Yes, Belgium confirmed that it was the newly named sunspot AR2683 (formerly AR2674) which unleashed that impulsive C1.8 yesterday.

Here is their report below. And by the way, we can quote from the Royal Observatory of Belgium website as long as we give them credit:
http://www.sidc.be/products/meu/

Solar activity slightly increased over the past 24 hours. Two
numbered active regions (AR) regions on the visible disk AR 2681 (Cso;
Beta), AR 2682 (Hax; Alpha), produced multiple B-class flares. The newly-
numbered AR 2683 (Hkx; Apha) produced the largest C1.8 flare which peaked
at 02:34 UT today (26-Sep-2017). One eruptive dimming has been observed at
the solar disk center at 15:23 UT yesterday, an associated CME departed
mostly toward the East with the projected speed around 490 km/s. More
coronograph imagery is needed before conclusion can be made. One filament
erupted from the east solar limb at 22:20 UT yesterday; the associated slow
CME is not expected to be geoeffective. Solar activity is expected to
remain low over the next 24 hours with a probability of C-class flares.
Solar wind parameters returned to nominal levels during the past 24 hours.
Solar wind speed decreased from around 400 km/s to 315 km/s. Total field
strength remained below 3.5 nT, while Bz component varied between 2.5 and
-2.5 nT. Solar wind parameters are expected remain at near background
levels today (26-Sep-2017). Solar wind variations can increase tomorrow
(27 September, 2017) due to the influence of the transequatorial positive
polarity CH HSS. Geomagnetic conditions ranged between Kp index 0-2 (NOAA)
and local K index 0-2 (Dourbes) over the past 24 hours. The geomagnetic
field is expected to be at quiet levels today and may reach a minor storm
level tomorrow (27-Sep-2017).
TODAY'S ESTIMATED ISN : 040, BASED ON 18 STATIONS.

[Maria]

Active Regions AR2681 and AR2683 are now Betas and there is a 10% chance of an M-flare.

[Maria]

This in from 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 57 (NOAA AR region 2683) has been
most active, producing one C1.7 flare peaking at 01:03 UT today. Eruptive
activity observed on the visible side of the solar disk yesterday is not
geoeffective. No Earth directed Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) have been
detected today. 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.
The sudden jump of the solar wind speed (up to maximum value of 560 km/s)
and simultaneous increase of the density and interplanetary magnetic field
magnitude (up to 17 nT) observed at around 07 UT on September 27 (today)
indicated arrival of the fast flow associated with the low latitude
extension of the northern polar coronal hole.

[Maria]

Joint USAF/NOAA Solar Region Summary
SRS Number 271 Issued at 0030Z on 28 Sep 2017
Report compiled from data received at SWO on 27 Sep
I. Regions with Sunspots. Locations Valid at 27/2400Z
Nmbr Location Lo Area Z LL NN Mag Type
2681 S13W21 179 0080 Hsx 03 01 Alpha
2682 S10E31 127 0180 Hax 03 02 Alpha
2683 N13E46 112 0270 Hkx 04 02 Alpha

All sunspots are now alphas, with no M-flares predicted.
AR2683 is the largest of the three, but AR2682 has been developing and is now second in size.
However, AR 2682 is not even near the size it was slightly more than two weeks ago as AR2673 when it unleashed two huge X flares.

[Maria]

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

COMMENT: Over the past 24 hours solar activity has been very low. Three
numbered active regions on the visible side of solar disk reduced their
magnetic complexity (from Beta to Alpha class) and have not shown any
flaring activity. No Earth directed Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) have been
detected. 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 a small chance of C-class flares.

[Luke]

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