Solar Rotation Nos: 2214 – 2215
Very quiet Sun.
Here are the solar highlights of February 2019 together with a selection of images.
Sunspots
No sunspots were seen throughout February.
In the absence of sunspots, polar faculae (typically seen as small bright points of light on the photosphere near the north and south poles of the Sun) were observed and imaged by Carl Bowron on the south solar pole on the 15th, 16th, 22nd, 23rd, 26th and 27th.
SPA Sunspot Mean Daily Frequency (MDF): 0.00 (was 0.32).
SPA Relative Sunspot Number: 0.00 (was 5.13).
Solar Prominences, Plage, Filaments and Flares
Most prominences observed this month were mainly small and dim, with no prominences on the 2nd, 4th and 22nd. In contrast, later in the month, 8 prominences were seen on the 26th and 5 the next day.
Small groups of filaments appeared on the 1st, 4th (this filament was quite dark and conspicuous in nature) and the 6th. A somewhat long-lived filament survived from the 15th right up to the 24th becoming long and elaborate, altering size and shape during this time.
No flares were reported.
SPA Prominence Mean Daily Frequency (MDF): 1.29 (was 1.09).
Well done to Alan Heath and Jonathan Shanklin who both observed 25 days. Also to Michael Fullerton and Brian Gordon-States who observed 22 and 21 days respectively.
Detailed count records of Active Regions and Relative Sunspot Numbers came from: Brian Gordon-States, Michael Fullerton, Alan Heath, Ian Lee, Jonathan Shanklin and Bob Steele.
Images and drawings were supplied by: Carl Bowron, John Fathers, Ian Lee and Cliff Meredith.
Geoff Elston
Director