Active Region AR3030 came into view on the Eastern limb of the Sun around June 10, 2022. I was first able to image it on June 11. Since then it has been rather un-impressive, but has now been joined by AR3032. AR3030 may be the continuation of AR3014 which disappeared around the Sun’s Western limb on May 27. AR 3014 was the most prominent Active Region so far in solar cycle 25.

Astro Physics 1100GTO German Equatorial Mount

Lunt 100 T-Ha Solarscope f7 (Double Stack)
ZWO ASI174MM camera (Full disk)
ZWO ASI178MM camera/ Astro Physics BARADV 2x (Close-up)
Optec Focuslynx focusing system
Baader FlipMirror II

Astro Physics 105EDF Traveler Refractor f6
Thousand Oaks Type-II Solar Filter
ZWO ASI174MM camera (Full disk)
ZWO ASI178MM camera/ Astro Physics BARADV 2x (Close-up)
Robofocus/Optec Focuslynx Focus system
Baader FlipMirror II

Data acquisition & Processing by David Churchill.

The sun’s activity runs on a roughly 11-year cycle, moving regularly from its most quiet period (solar minimum), to its most active (solar maximum), and back to quiet. Those periods of activity on the sun create what’s known as space weather. Solar cycle prediction helps give scientists a rough idea of the frequency of space weather storms of all types, from radio blackouts to geomagnetic storms and solar radiation storms. Space weather can impact the power grid, satellites, GPS and airlines, as well as astronauts and spacecraft.
Solar Cycle 25 officially began in December 2019, when solar minimum occurred, marking the end of Solar Cycle 24. Because the sun is so variable, it can take months to calculate when the new cycle starts. Solar Cycle 24 had the fourth-smallest intensity since regular record keeping began with Solar Cycle 1 in 1755. It was also the weakest cycle in 100 years. Scientists forecast that Solar Cycle 25 will be a fairly weak one, similar to Solar Cycle 24. The next solar maximum, when the sun is experiencing peak activity, is predicted to occur in July 2025.
Credit: EarthSky / Eleanor Imster (9/20)