What's the current status of sunspots?

[jrkirkham]

I haven't looked at the sun for a long time. I thought I would get out my filter and watch some sunspots, IF I could find any. I assume that we are at the end of a solar cycle and just starting a new cycle and sunspots are at a minimum right now? Is that correct? What do you expect in the near future? Does 2020 look like a bad year for sunspots?

[Thefatkitty]

Hi Rob, I hear you on the spots... supposedly we're in the middle of the biggest Solar minimum in years. I myself have witnessed 5 small spots since the beginning of 2019

Anyways, I can't make any predictions on this, but there are those who can... https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/solar-cycle-25-forecast-update

Hope this helps and good luck!

[Lady Fraktor]

Things should start slowly improving unless the solar system is about to play a practical joke on us.

[notFritzArgelander]

Things should start slowly improving unless the solar system is about to play a practical joke on us.

The last time such a joke was played on a big scale was the Maunder Minimum. The side effect was lower temperatures in Europe (and likely the globe). While an irritation to solar observation it would buy us a little time to get our act together.

[notFritzArgelander]

Here's a link to the Maunder Minimum https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maunder_Minimum

70 years is a long time! Since it was only observed with the invention of the telescope we are clueless about how often these things happen.

I have a new scope that I was thinking of partly using for solar. I'll hold off on Ha until there are signs of more activity.

[Altocumulus]

Two, yesterday. Rather twee!

[Tim456]

We have sunspots! Dusted off the solar filter yesterday and snagged this picture with my iphone. Great to see some action on the sun again!

[helicon]

Nice photo [mention]Tim456[/mention] !

[Unitron48]

Yes, a little activity: https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/en/solar-activity!!

Dave