Solar and Aurora Activity Chat

[SteveB]

22 days blank, 193 days for 2019 72%

Solar flux 67

Thermosphere: 4.11

[Katrine Basso]

https://www.spaceweather.com/

THE SOLAR WIND IS HERE: A minor stream of solar wind flowing from a hole in the sun's atmosphere is buffeting Earth's magnetic field. This is not causing a geomagnetic storm, but it is sparking some nice equinox auroras around the Arctic Circle. Browse the realtime photo gallery for the latest sightings. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.

A SUMMER WITHOUT SUNSPOTS: Could northern summer 2019 go down in history as "the summer without sunspots"? From June 21st until Sept 22nd, the sun was blank more than 89% of the time. During the entire season only 6 tiny sunspots briefly appeared, often fading so quickly that readers would complain to Spaceweather.com, "you've labeled a sunspot that doesn't exist!" (No, it just disappeared.) Not a single significant solar flare was detected during this period of extreme quiet.

The sun on Sept. 22, 2019--as blank as a billiard ball. Credit: NASA/SDO

This is a sign that Solar Minimum is underway and probably near its deepest point. For 2019 overall (January through September), the sun has been blank 72% of the time, comparable to annual averages during the century-class Solar Minimum of 2008 (73%) and 2009 (71%). The current Solar Minimum appears to be century-class as well, meaning you have to go back to the beginnning of the 20th century to find lulls in solar activity this deep.

[SteveB]

23 days blank, 194 form 2019 72%

Solar flux 68

Thermosphere: 4.28

[Kirkcaldy Weather]

 

[SteveB]

24 days blank, 195 for 2019 72%

Solar flux 67

Thermosphere: 4.18

[jonboy]

On ‎23‎/‎09‎/‎2019 at 13:14, jules216 said:

Have a quick question, how would the solar minimum of cycle 24 compare against minimums in Dalton or Mauder. Is there any data where I can compare the years without sunspots of 2008 and 2009 with Dalton Miminum years 

The present run of cycles ie 23, 24 and the next 25 are not believed to be comparable with maunder but could be similar to Dalton. certainly the next cycle will be similar to the present cycle but we should then see an increase in cycle 26 and a bigger uptick in cycle 27. It is difficult to compare sunspot numbers as technology has improved and as we see now we will see a sunspot counted that only lasts a few hours at the lowest count of 11. It is unfortunate that the one site that did try to do a comparision has now stopped doing so although they do still have some great information and comments.

[kar999]

Geomagnetic storm ongoing. Currently widespread observations of Aurora tonight from Scotland. Possiblity of visibility further south.

Typically I've just returned from a trip to the Outer Hebrides and Scotland this evening.

[kar999]

 

[SteveB]

25 days blank,  196 for 2019 72%

Solar flux 66

Thermosphere: 4.29

[Katrine Basso]

AURORAS OVER NORWAY: "The geomagnetic storm tonight sparked bright auroras for about 4 hours non-stop here in Hamarøy, Norway," reports photographer Petra Schneider. "It was the best aurora display I have ever witnessed, and I'm still in awe of nature's wonderful light show."

[shuggee]

Stunning. Have seen photos from Orkney and Skye. Much quieter just now.

[Katrine Basso]

Sunspot number: 0

Current Stretch: 26 days
2019 total: 197 days (72%)

Thermosphere Climate Index
today: 4.42x1010 W Cold

The Radio Sun
10.7 cm flux: 67 sfu

[SteveB]

27 days blank, 198 for 2019 (73%)

Solar flux 67

Thermosphere: 4.42

[Katrine Basso]

WEEKEND GEOMAGNETIC STORM: On Friday, Sept. 27th, a solar wind stream hit Earth's magnetic field. The impact sparked weekend-long auroras around the Arctic Circle. At the peak of the G1-class geomagnetic storm, the lights over Alaska were so bright they beamed through rain and snow clouds. Sacha Layos photographed the display outside Fairbanks. "A gorgeous dance between aurora and clouds took place in our skies Saturday night!" she says:

 

[4wd]

The lights were visible here at times on Saturday evening, rather low in the sky though.
There was some high cloud overhead which was reflecting it, making it curiously bright for a moonless night. 

[Despicable Weather]

https://spaceweather.com

Spotless Days
Current Stretch: 0 days
2019 total: 199 days (72%)

Thermosphere Climate Index
today: 4.75x1010 W Cold

The Radio Sun
10.7 cm flux: 69 sfu

[Despicable Weather]

https://spaceweather.com

Spotless Days
Current Stretch: 0 days
2019 total: 199 days (72%)

Thermosphere Climate Index
today: 4.79x1010 W Cold

The Radio Sun
10.7 cm flux: 68 sfu

That little sunspot is decaying already and sfu has dropped again.

[Despicable Weather]

Refreshed the page and it's been updated already, back to spotless!

https://spaceweather.com

Spotless Days
Current Stretch: 1 day
2019 total: 200 days (72%)

Thermosphere Climate Index
today: 4.79x1010 W Cold

The Radio Sun
10.7 cm flux: 68 sfu

 

[Despicable Weather]

SpaceWeather.com -- News and information about meteor showers, solar flares, auroras, and near-Earth asteroids

SPACEWEATHER.COM

Spotless Days
Current Stretch: 2 days
2019 total: 201 days (72%)

Thermosphere Climate Index
today: 4.80x1010 W Cold

The Radio Sun
10.7 cm flux: 68 sfu

[SteveB]

3 days blank, 202 for 2019 72%

Solar flux 68

Thermosphere: 4.52

[Minus 10]

big drop in tci today

[SteveB]

4 days blank, 202 for 2019 73%

Solar flux 67

Thermosphere:4.49

[Minus 10]

Neutron count 9.4%=high

Record high 12/2009 11.7%=very high.

 

[Weather-history]

 

[SteveB]

5 days blank, 204 for 2019 73%

Solar flux 68

Thermosphere: 4.42