SOLAR SECTION REPORT FOR JULY 23
Carrington Rotation Numbers – 2271 to 2272
Many thanks to all those who sent in observations and images. July was not a very good month for observing due to weather. Despite this, the average observing days were around 17 and the Sun did not disappoint when it came to activity.
The Sun showed a large group at the beginning of the month, which went over the west limb on the 3 July, and then the Sun became more active as the month progressed. It was noticeable that a large single large spot crossing the solar disc was apparent, AR3363, which transited from the 7th to the 17th. Other groups were complex in configuration, such as AR3373, showing multiple umbrae, and quickly developing. Observers using hydrogen alpha also saw some impressive sights in the form of large prominences and filaments.
The information below may be referenced to the News part of the solar section website by the date shown.
1 July 23. The solar disk still showed the large active region, AR3354, now heading towards the west limb. Several other small groups were now transiting the disc in the east.
3 July 23. AR3354 was now on the west limb, surrounded by faculae, with the groups in the east, especially AR3359, developing. Hydrogen Alpha views showed a large filament between AR3357 and AR3359 and a smaller one to the west. Small prominences in the northwest and in the southeast.
5 July 23. Activity was low with only 4 groups showing. AR3359 now a bipolar group in the south and two groups in the north. A new spot had come over the east limb.
7 July 23. Some good observations were received regarding this day. New activity became apparent. AR3359 was still a bipolar group, but a new bipolar group had appeared beneath. AR3358 was a small group with a small round spot, but with a irregular area below. AR3361 was a small, but complex group with a multi-umbra leader and bi-umbra follower. What was special is the emergence of a large single spot, AR3363, over the east limb. In hydrogen alpha activity was high with large prominences, of various shapes, in the southwest and southeast, and a ‘spike’ prominence in the northwest. Multiple filaments surrounded AR3359 with further filaments to the northeast below AR3363.
8 July 23. Hydrogen alpha only. The Sun was still very active with multiple filaments to the area of AR3366 and AR3359, with large areas of plage surrounding them. A moderate filament was noted near AR3361. Prominences included a ‘spike’ prominence to the north, a ‘tree’ prominence to the east and an ‘arch’ prominence to the south.
9 July 23. A few groups to be seen, but the largest one was AR3363, which now appeared to have a ‘lightbridge’ to the end of it umbra. Other small groups had appeared such as AR3367. AR3361 was still a group with a small complex follower.
10 July 23. A new group AR3369 appeared in the southwest. All other groups appeared stable. The Lightbridge in the umbra of AR3363 appeared to have gone. Hydrogen alpha view showed a large prominence to the southwest and a minor one to the northeast. Activity around AR3363 appeared a large plage area with a diffuse filament to its south.
12 July 23. Activity was increasing with AR3363 developing slightly with the return of its Lightbridge and further penumbra to its south. Developments were seen in AR3367. New groups AR3370 and AR3371 were now transiting. But another large group, AR3372 had come over the northeast limb, with a large leader single spot and complex follower.
13 July 23. Hydrogen alpha only. AR3363 is still showing activity around it with a circle of plage and a small filament to its south. Plage activity was noted around most areas. A large ‘arch’ prominence was seen to the northwest.
15 July 23. AR3363 is still transiting and appeared active with now two umbra, in a teardrop shaped penumbra. Some small pores were noted to its south. AR3372, still a bipolar group, remained with a spot leader and smaller follower. New groups AR3373, a small, elongated group, and AR3374 had come around the east limb.
16 July 23. AR3363 was reaching the west limb. AR3372’s follower group appeared to be dispersing into a ‘ring’ formation. AR3373 had developed slightly with the appearance of new spot/pores.
17 July 23. AR3372’s follower region had developed and again changed shape. AR3373 had developed becoming a more complex group with the appearance of a central penumbral region. AR3363 was very near the west limb. Another small spot had appeared over the east limb.
19 July 23. AR3372 was still transiting, and its follower spot had decayed slightly. AR3373 was still active with a spot region containing two umbra following a spot/pore region. AR3377 was a classic bipolar group, and some new areas coming over the east limb.
20 July 23. AR3372 remained stable. AR3373 was now a complex, multi-spot group. A new group, AR3378 emerged in the south. AR3379 had now come over the east limb. The spots in this group may be together, but one has to be careful due to the effects of foreshortening. Hydrogen alpha views showed a large ‘flame’ prominence to the west and an ‘arch’ prominence to the northeast. There was a ‘detached’ prominence to the southeast and northwest. A large filament was seen to the east.
21 July 23. Most areas appeared stable. But AR3373 was still active and changing its configuration as it transits.
23 July 23. Most areas appeared to be decaying, and activity was lower. AR3373 had reduced in size, especially in the leading group.
24 July 23. AR3373 was decaying. All other areas appeared stable. A new area, AR3380 had come over the southeast limb. Hydrogen alpha showed some good prominence activity in the east and south. The eastern one was a large, continuous prominence. Some minor filaments across the disc, especially in the northeast.
25 July 23. Most of the activity was now disappearing over the west limb. AR3376 had developed into a larger group, and AR3379 sported some pores around its leader spot. Hydrogen alpha still showed the prominences to the east and south, but now there was a large ‘hedgerow’ prominence to the west. Large plage areas around AR3379.
26 July 23. Hydrogen Alpha only. Some prominences around the limb. In the south, southeast and north and west, The southeast prominence appeared to be a detached ‘arch’ and a large ‘solid’ rounded prominence on the south. Large plage activity following AR3382 and AR3379
29 July 23. Three groups now reaching the west limb. In the east AR3386 was the largest group preceded by AR3380 which had crossed the central meridian. Small spots had come over the east limb. Hydrogen alpha showed a couple of large ‘tree’ prominences to the northwest and an ‘arch’ prominence to the southeast. Minor filaments to the southeast with small ones next to AR3386. Still a lot of plage activity associated with AR3379.
30 July 23. AR3379 now nearing the west limb. AR3380 is a small complex group just passed the central meridian. AR3386 is another large group transiting the disc. Minor developments in all other areas. A new spot, AR3391, just come over the east limb.
The readings below are subject to change as observations arrive.
MDF = 7.35 (Changed 15 August 23)
R = 107.18 (Changed 6 August 23)
Prom R = 6.82
Images and Data were sent in by Carl Bowron, Alan Heath, Roger Heard, Michael Fullerton, Cliff Meredith, Jonathan Shanklin, Robert Steele, Ian Lee and the Director.
This will be my last report as Director. I would like to thank all members for sending in the images and data over the past year, but I will still be remaining as a member of the Section. The new Director is Neil Waby, and the email address remains the same: solar@popastro.com.
John Chapman-Smith