Dear RHESSI Collaborators,
Solar flare activity was at low levels with only 3 B-class events observed (one each from NOAA regions 0835 and 0836 and the third from the SE limb region). NOAA 0836 grew yesterday increasing its sunspot area significantly. Except for its east west magnetic inversion line, 0836 has a simple magnetic configuration. Only low-level flare activity expected. NOAA 0834 has emerging flux located WNW of its leading negative polarity sunspot. The positive polarity trailing sunspot of the new flux is adjacent to the leader. If the EFR continues to develop, 0834 will then have the potential to start producing flares. 0834 is the return of old NOAA 0822 which was very flare rich in its last rotation.
The position of NOAA 0836 on December 15 at 14:30 UT: S10W61 (Solar X = 841", Solar Y = -161")
See http://www.solarmonitor.org/ for images and additional information and http://solar.physics.montana.edu/max_millennium/ops/observing.shtml for a description of the current Max Millennium Observing Plan.
Regards, Bill Marquette Helio Research Received on Thu Dec 15 2005 - 08:07:54 MST