Scientists say the new sunspots are here

Improved band may soon be on their way. Scientists say that after more than two years of few sunspots, even fewer solar flares, the sun is finally showing signs of life.

David Hathaway is a sunspot forecaster of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville Alabama.
In his opinion the solar minimum is behind us. He said that in October scientists counted five sunspot groups.

Hathaway says that this may not sound like much, but in a year with record-low numbers of sunspots and long stretches of spotlessness, five is significant.

Even more significant is the fact that four of the five sunspot groups belonged to Solar Cycle 24. That's the new and long-awaited next installment of the sun's 11-year solar cycle. Hathaway says that October was the first time sunspots from new Solar Cycle 24 outnumbered spots from old Solar Cycle 23.

Hathaway adds that this is a good sign that the new cycle is taking off.

This will be welcome news to the ears of hams who have waited a long time to work some new and possibly rare DX.

Source: Amateur Radio Newsline, NASA

Our thanks to Mike Terry for alerting us to this item