solar observations

Introduction

I am an active member (DELS) of the American Association of Variable Star Observers and make visual observations with my 102mm f/10 refractor fitted with a Baadar white-light solar filter and a small H-Alpha solar telescope. I input my data using AAVSO’s SunEntry app which AAVSO uses to calculate the monthly American Relative Sunspot Numbers (RA) index utilized by solar researchers worldwide.

Solar cycle 25 began in December 2019 with a minimum smoothed sunspot number of 1.8. It is expected to continue until about 2030.

Solar cycle 24 began in December 2008 with a minimum smoothed sunspot number of 2.2 and ended in December 2019. Activity was minimal until early 2010.  It reached its maximum in April 2014 with a 23 months smoothed sunspot number of 81.8. This maximum value was substantially lower than other recent solar cycles, down to a level which had not been seen since cycles 12 to 15 (1878-1923). 

Solar Cycle 23 began in August 1996 and ended in December 2008 when the polarity of the sunspots reversed, marking the beginning of new Solar Cycle 24. The maximum smoothed sunspot number observed during solar cycle 23 was 180.3 (November 2001), and the starting minimum was 11.2.

Reference: Wikipedia

2023 - solar cycle 25

2022 - solar cycle 25

2013 - solar cycle 24

2012 - solar cycle 24

2011 - solar cycle 24

2010 - solar cycle 24

2003 - solar cycle 23

2002 - solar cycle 23