Sunspot at last

Both NASA and NOAA have predicated that we are heading even further into the Solar minimum, Is this bad news for Aurora watchers. This low is expected to last until Autumn 2020 followed by a slow recovery

The new Solar Cycle 25 won't commence until 2023 - 2026



Graph: Space Weather

Solar Cycle 24 was a weak affair and produced little action. Sunspots usually produce a flares and Aurora activity. Some think that in an Aurora Minimum, the Aurora take on a more pink colour, which has been the case recently.

Solar wind comes from holes in the Sun, rather than Sunspot Flares at this time in the Solar Cycle, which still produces some impressive Aurora

This sunspot which appeared a few days ago, AR2738, is impressive, its has a core 3 times that of Earth but has not produced any flares. Something may happen soon as it seems to be breaking up.

The Sunspot has a trail which is 200,000km long, also know as a Light Bridge.

In 2018 we had 221 days where no sunspot were seen (61%)
so far in 2019 we have had 62  days (60%) where no sunspots have been visible

Join Shetland Aurora Hunter on facebook for all the latest information

#Shetland Aurora Hunter, #Aurora, #Sunspots, #Sun, #Sunspot Flares

St Ninian's isle, Shetland at night

No Aurora activity for a few days now and a series of spotless days on the sun. We did however have a couple of sunspots which shed a bit of light on the fact that we might becoming out of the Solar minimum

Stars above Bigton Kirk

Looking south with Mars in view

St Ninian's Tombolo

Looking south from Ireland towards St Ninian's

Boats on the horizon

Red Sun Blue Moon

If you look back in the recent blogs I am sure you will find me mentioning that we are heading into a solar minimum. When this occurs we have less opportunity to see the Aurora. The first photo was taken at the beginning of February, the second last year. In January 2018 we had 17 days when no sunspots were visible(50%), last year there was 104 spotless days (28%)

If you look at certain newspapers some suggest that we are entering a mini ice age and back in the 1600/1700's there was a period of 70 years without sunspots and this resulted in the River Thames freezing with mini icebergs  seen.

While we will see less Coronal Mass ejections as a result of less sunspots exploding, but there will still be splits in the sun core so the Solar wind which sparks off the Aurora will still occur. This cycle is over an 11 year period

The other notable even of January 2018 was the second Super moon in the month and this is called a Blue Moon. The last time that happened was 150 years ago on the 31 March 1866. A Super moon is 14% bigger and 30% brighter and this certainly was the case but only showed for about 5 mins before the cloud came in

In some parts of the world but not in the UK there was also a Lunar Eclipse or a Blood Moon as the moon turns Red

So if you are around in 2034 the moon will be even closer to earth when it can be seen at 221, 485 miles away.

Want to see more Aurora photos, then join us on Facebook  at Shetland Aurora Hunter- just send me a request to join