Impressive Sunspot Complexity!
Spring Time 2024


In April 2024 I noticed that the solar activity was about to focus closer to the solar equator. The seasonal geometry makes the sun being apparently tilted to the right, which makes the sunspot groups on the picture rallying around the solar equator. This might be a sign that the solar cycle is about to mature.

But the moderate sunspot count is obviously not indicative for a waning solar activity. Just 1 ½ weeks later I was able to capture an incredibly complex and extensive sunspot group that I was made aware of by a posting from an astronomy colleague in the Austrian astronomy forum. The remarkable area named "AR 3664" generated aurora activity visible even in Central Europe.

NASA Astronomy Picture May 13th, 2024


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