The Latest Solar Images

Observations are happening daily, except for most Saturdays, all Sundays, and holiday periods; and are governed by duty schedule, weather, and solar activity. When the Sun has very low activity (spotless), observations will be limited or non-existent. Whenever the Sun becomes active again, the observing program will become active as well, weather permitting. The Sun is expected to reach the maximum activity level of the current Cycle 25 solar cycle. So we anticipate more events in terms of active region size and number, and solar flares.

One can monitor the Sun via several websites that provide real-time images of the Sun. The website, https://www.solarmonitor.org/, has such images in six different channels. The numbers are the NOAA designations for active regions (with the “1” at the start of the designation removed for convenience). Another website with up-t0-date information on solar activity and other goings-on in the skies is www.spaceweather.com. Additional information about the Sun’s current activity can be obtained from https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/, and real-time full-disk H-alpha images from observatories around the world can be viewed at http://halpha.nso.edu/.

A typical observing run may last from one to four hours, depending on seeing considerations, weather, and other work responsibilities, but will include active region monitoring of available active regions and the collection of frames for high-resolution solar mosaics in H-alpha. Each session includes at least one mosaic, which is a series of images made of all parts of the Sun’s disk that can later be stitched together to form a whole-disk image. At the very least, this ensures that all visible features such as prominences, filaments, and active regions (sunspot groups) are all captured in image form at least once per session. Usually observations are carried out in the late morning hours, but an additional session may occur in the mid-afternoon hours and it will include its own mosaic. If a sunspot group is expected to be active, then it becomes a main focus for observation for extended periods of time.

Solar activity is summarized in each day’s entry below, based on the forecast discussion product issued by the Space Weather Prediction Center each morning, along with observed activity (or lack of) the day of the featured observations. Regions are numbered by the NOAA/SWPC and are often provided in four-digit format (e.g. 3327), although I and other sources use the full five-digit designation (13327). Solar flares are described in terms of their X-ray intensity and optical “importance” (apparent brightness and area covered). One can learn more about the X-ray class of solar flares often discussed below by going to this website: https://www.spaceweather.com/glossary/flareclasses.html. Finally the SWPC 3-day forecast for solar activity is provided at the end of each entry.

More information about solar flares can be found at these websites: https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/phenomena; https://www.space.com/solar-flares-effects-classification-formation; and https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/en/solar-activity/solar-flares.html. I have also found the following website to be very useful: spaceweatherlive.com

The solar images are recorded through a Meade 16-inch f/8 Cassegrain telescope equipped with a 0.3 Å Hydrogen-alpha filter and a 16-bit, 3326×2504 pixel SBIG STF-8300 CCD camera. The aperture of the scope is stopped to 4-7/8 inch by an energy-rejection filter, which renders the system an f/26. A neutral density filter is added to bring the sunlight intensity down by 90%. Each image is automatically dark-subtracted as it is saved and each exposure is 0.1 second long for the red off-band continuum images and 0.5 second for the on-band H-alpha images. Flat field images are taken at periodic intervals throughout the observing session and are obtained by training the telescope to focus near the center of the Sun’s disk. Five images are then taken while dithering the frame 1′ to 5′ N,S,E, and W. The idea is to try to get images that are slightly blurred (either due to seeing or scope motion) and off set from each other. A set of 30 bias images (0-second exposures with the dome closed and scope parked) are taken at the end of each observing session.

Select images are processed for further study and display. A program called MaxIM DL is used to do basic calibration (bias-subtraction and flat field correction), and the levels are adjusted for optimum display contrast. Choice images are then selected for online display. All of the images are archived in their raw FITS format, sorted by date, and backed up twice. At a later time we can mass process these and make them available for scientific use. Inquiries can be made of Brian Cudnik, at bmcudnik@pvamu.edu, or Premkumar Saganti, at pbsaganti@pvamu.edu.]

NOTE: Images of the March 14, 2025 total lunar eclipse are posted at https://www.pvamu.edu/pvso/cosmic-corner/total-lunar-eclipse-1/

NOTE: Images of the April 8, 2024 solar eclipse are posted at https://www.pvamu.edu/pvso/cosmic-corner/partial-solar-eclipse/.

Observations have been conducted since then at the PVSO, primarily with H-alpha. There was a period of time when magnetospheric data were collected but the work had primarily been regional H-alpha images of active regions and filaments. Regular observations continued through the mid-2000’s, then became more sporadic through 2015. After a five-year pause, regular observations resumed (in their current format) on 8 January 2020.

Solar Cycle 25 Update

We continue to work through the high end of the current solar cycle. In fact, the Sun had been active since 2022, with the peak of activity (based on sunspot number averages and F10.7 cm radio flux) occurring in August 2024. Since then both indices have trended downward, with the corresponding decline in sunspot number and solar flare activity. The following plot shows the sunspot number progression, along with predictions through 2030, from https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/solar-cycle-progression.

It is interesting to note that Solar Cycle 25 has yet to see an X10 or greater flare. The last time a flare of that size erupted was on 10 September 2017, during Solar Cycle 24. The overall trend of strong solar flares seems to have declined over the last three solar cycles. The website, spaceweatherlive.com, posts the top 50 flares for each of the last three solar cycles. For Solar Cycle 23, when PVSO began regular operations in May 1999, there were 10 flare events of X10 or greater (5 of these were greater than X20 and one exceeded X40), and 125 total X-class flares (X1.0 or greater).

Solar Cycle 24 only had two flares of X10 or greater, the strongest of which was an X13.3. Altogether, there were 49 flares of X1.0 or greater during Solar Cycle 23, less than half the number of the prior solar cycle’s flare activity. The current Solar Cycle 25 features 100 X-class flares, with the 50th recorded X-class flare happening in June 2024. The strongest flare of the current cycle was an X9.0 on 3 October 2025. The most recent X-class flare (as of 13 May 2026) was an X2.5 on 24 April this year.

Solar activity, while having its monthly ups and downs, should continue to trend downward over the next four years, reaching solar minimum sometime around 2030.

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June 11, 2026

Solar activity continues to persist at low levels. AR 14465 was the source of most of the flares over the last two days, including a long-duration C6.7/1F flare that peaked at 0:02 UT, 11 UT. Then it produced a C9.0 flare at 8:28 UT, 11 June, the largest of the day so far (through 22:35 UT).

The number of spotted active regions continues to decrease as it seems the overall activity level is decreasing in the short term. This is normal during a solar cycle, whereas the overall activity level rises and falls within the 11 year cycle, on time scales of weeks the Sun will have periods of elevated activity and periods of depressed activity. There are five spotted active regions visible on the disk today, with AR 14465 being the largest and most complex of them all. It has experienced some growth and increasing magnetic complexities. The C6.7 produced a CME that was first observed 51 minutes after the peak of the event. This may glance the Earth’s magnetic field on 13-14 June.

The first column below includes red continuum images, each 0.09 sec exposure; and the second column hosts H-alpha line center images, each 0.15 sec exposure and enhanced slightly to bring out detail. Each of the images covers 7.8’x11.4′ on the sky. Celestial north is up, west is right in each image.

These active regions are in the process of slowly decaying.	AR 14456 (now just over the edge of the Sun past where the filament lies) managed to release a C1.3 at 11:36 UT today.
AR 14464. It has changed spot configuration since yesterday.	AR 14464 has not produced any reported flares so far today. It remains generally quiet.
Of the eight reported flares so far today, seven came from this region, AR 14465.	This is a C1.4 flare (bright semi-circle) at its X-ray peak. This region remains mildly active.

Solar activity is expected to remain at low levels through 13 June. There is a chance for M-class flares primarily from AR 14464 and/or 14465.

June 10, 2026

Solar activity remains at low levels today. Most of the C-class flares came from AR 14465 yesterday until 1:33 UT today, then its activity ceased for the day. AR’s 14466 and 14456 each produced a minor event, but the last flaring event came from the latter at 13:26 UT, a C1.5. Aside from some enhancements into the upper B-range and C1.0 range between 14:55 and 16:55, there have been no further flares (through 22:20 UT today. There are now six spotted active regions on the visible disk: AR 14467 briefly formed yesterday near 14464 but went spotless; and AR 14456 rotated out of view. The filament that was observed disappearing/erupting yesterday around 16:00 UT produced a weak CME that was observed with SOHO around 16:30 UT in the northwest quadrant. The CME is expected to deliver a weak impact on Earth’s magnetic field on 14 June.

Four small regions (labeled), with 14456 being on the solar limb.	AR 14456 produced a C1.5 at 13:26UT as it departed; AR 14466 is growing a bit and produced an optical sub-flare at 5:16 UT.
AR 14463 (top), 14466 (right edge) and 14464 (bottom).	Despite the flare potential, AR 14464 failed to produce anything significant today.
AR 14465 is the lone region in this image looking toward the east edge of the Sun.	Aside from a couple of low level C-class flares very early today (UT), this region has been quiet all day.

Solar activity is likely (but not likely…) to be moderate with a slight chance for an X-class flare through 12 June. ARs 14464 and 14465 would be the potential sources.

June 9, 2026

Solar activity remains at low levels today. There were numerous C-class flares (mostly low-level) from ARs 14456, 14464, and 14465 yesterday through early today. Since 0h UT today, AR 14465 has been the source of all but five flares, AR 14464 had one and 14455 had two as it departs over the west limb, and two later events are mentioned below. The largest so far today (through 23:00 UT) was a C4.5/SF at 4:23 UT (9 June). There are 9 sunspot groups on the visible solar disk (not including AR 14455, which is now out of view), eight of which are numbered. The lone unnumbered region is a small developing sunspot group just northwest of AR 14464. Most of the regions are stable or slowly decaying.

We observed a filament disappear, the last traces of it were observed just before 16:05 UT. This is located just east (left) of AR 14463, which is visible in the image below. There may be a hint of a CME in the SOHO LASCO C2 image from 17:00 but this will need to await confirmation from the SWPC.

Later in the day, spotless region 14461 produced a C2.3/1F parallel ribbon flare event, possibly associated with a filament eruption. This event peaked at 19:18. This was followed by a C1.6/SF at 19:43 UT from emerging region AR 14466.

A string of small active regions (labeled) are viewed on the western part of the solar disk.	At least 3 or 4 filaments are visible in this image. This part of the sun has been quiet the entire day, except for a pair of C1 flares early on from AR 14455 (now over the limb).
Four numbered active regions along with a fifth emerging just northwest of AR 14464, are visible in this continuum image.	AR 14464 and 14466 are seen in this image. AR 14464 produced one C1.3/SF event so far today.
AR 14465 (left) and 14463 (right) are visible in this continuum image.	AR 14465 was the source of the majority of activity today (so far). The dark streak just left of AR 14463 (on the right edge of the image) disappeared completely less than an hour after this image was taken.

Solar activity is expected to be at low with a likely chance for isolated M-class flares, along with a slight chance for X-class flares, through 11 June. This is primarily from AR’s 14456, 14462. 14464, and 14465.

June 8, 2026

Solar activity was at low levels today. It did reach moderate levels on Saturday, 6 June, with a long-duration M1.8 flare from AR 14461, which peaked at 14:00 UT. This region has almost completely decayed to plage today. Since then there have only been mostly low-level C-class flares from various regions. AR 14455 is in the process of rotating over the solar limb today; this region is decaying and has remained quiet (not a single flare was recorded from this region so far today). AR 14456 started to decay a bit after its dramatic return last week. AR 14462 and 14464 each have grown, added spots to their spot numbers, and produced C-class flares. AR 14465 has just rotated into view and produced the largest flare so far today (as of 20:30 UT), and the largest since the M1.8 on Saturday.

The first column below includes red continuum images, each 0.15 sec exposure; and the second column hosts H-alpha line center images, each 0.15 sec exposure and enhanced slightly to bring out detail. Each of the images covers 7.8’x11.4′ on the sky. Celestial north is up, west is right in each image.

Several small active regions adorn this part of the solar disk.	AR 14455 is in the process of rotating off disk, to be followed by AR 14458.
Three regions found near the center of the solar disk. Small white spots are artefacts of the image processing.	Each of these regions contributed one C1 flare (so far) today, but were otherwise quiet.
AR 14463 (just right of image center) and 14465 (left edge, are visible on the northeastern part of the solar disk.	AR 14465 started the (UT) day active but went quiet after 5:10 UT. AR 14463 has not produced a single flare so far today

Solar activity is expected to be at low with a chance for isolated M-class activity through 10 June. This is primarily from AR’s 14455, 14456. 14458, 14462, and 14465.

June 5, 2026

Solar activity is still at low levels. There had only been low-level C-class flares coming from many regions today: 14455, 14457, 14458, 14459, and 14462. Currently, nine spotted active regions (eight numbered) are visible on the solar disk. AR 14455 continues to be magnetically complex, with the “anti-Hale” magnetic configuration, which is slowly simplifying. AR 14458 is slowly growing and maintaining a complex magnetic field configuration. AR 14457 showed growth along with new magnetic flux emergence as it rotates over the west southwestern solar limb. All the other regions, except for the re-emerged AR 14456, were stable or in decay. The largest solar flare today (through 22:30 UT) was a C4.5/SF from AR 14455, observed briefly during this morning’s observation session.

Our local weather had been unsettled for most of this past week, but there had been substantial periods of clear enough skies to allow for imaging. This was especially the case for 3, 4, and 5 June, with 5 June being the least favorable weather for observing this week. Most of the images were taken through thin veils of cloud.

AR 14455 (upper right), 14456 (top center), and 14458 (bottom center).	AR 14455 with C4 flare (two bright spots). This region, and later 14458, produced C-class flares today.
AR 14458 (top) and 14457 (arrowed) as the latter rotates out of view.	AR 14457 shown with flare (on solar edge at right). This would peak as a C4.0 flare at 15:13 UT, two minutes after this image.
A string of active regions. From left to right: AR 14463, 14462, and 14459.	These regions were mostly quiet, but AR 14462 and 14459 had produced low-level C-class flares today.

Solar activity is expected to be at low to moderate levels through 7 June, with a good chance for M-class flares and a slight chance for X-class flares. The active regions most likely to do this are 14455, 14458, and 14459.

June 4, 2026

Solar activity continued at low levels. The largest flare that had occurred since the X1.0 was a C5.1 at 23:43 UT on 3 June from AR 14459. There have only been low-level C-class flares since (through 21:30 UT today). Many different active regions contributed to today’s flares: ARs 14442, 14446, 14451, 14455, 14457, and 14458. AR 14455 has only (so far) produced a single C1.5 flare at 12:58 UT today. This region remains complex, displaying new magnetic complexity (a “delta structure”), but the rate of flux emergence had slowed, which could be why it has been so quiet the last two days. AR 14458 and 14459 continued to grow, and 14462 spots are separating. The other four spotted active regions (8 total are visible on the solar disk) are stable or in decline.

A coronal mass ejection (CME) became visible in satellite imagery at approximately 4:25 UT today, and this appears to be tied to a C2.5 flare (3:57 UT, 4 June) from AR 14457. This CME appears likely to miss Earth entirely. The cannibal CME mentioned yesterday is expected to strike this evening (North American time) or early on 5 June. This could spark considerable geomagnetic storming and roughly half of the United States may see aurora tonight.

A group of three spotted active regions (lower right) are rotating out of view. AR 14458 (upper left) has moved into this field of view.	This zone of the Sun has largely been quiet, but each of these active regions (except for 14460 on the very edge) contributed one weak C-class flare so far today.
AR 14455 (above image center) and 14458 (lower left) are the dominant regions on the visible solar disk.	Despite the complexities of these active regions, each only produced a single low-level C-class flare so far today.
AR 14459 (just below image center) appears to be growing, with AR 14461 (left) following.	AR 14459 has been completely quiet so far today, and AR 14461 had a single flare. Just beyond the two a large single spot appears to be rotating into view.

Solar activity is expected to be at moderate to high levels through 6 June, with M-class flares likely and a slight chance for an X-class flare. The active regions most likely to do this are 14455, 14458, and 14459.

June 3, 2026

Solar activity reached high levels. There were three major flares over an 11 hour period. AR 14455 was the source of these flares: an M9.3/SF at 1:36 UT today (3 June), an M7.7/2B at 7:00 UT, and an X1.0 at 11:28 UT. The first flare produced a CME that was visible by satellite imagery by 2:15 UTC. The second flare also produced a CME that became visible in satellite imagery by 7:50 UT. The X1.0 also produced a faint CME. At least two of these may combine to generate a “cannibal CME event”, whereby a faster CME catches up with a slower one to produce a larger, more powerful CME, which should arrive late on June 4.

(spaceweather.com)

The M3.3/2B flare that was observed at 16:50 UT yesterday from AR 14455 coincided with a large, far-sided solar eruption. The CME from the latter became visible in satellite imagery by 17:00 UT on 2 June. The M3 flare apparently did not generate a substantial CME. A large filament erupted from the SW part of the Sun happened earlier on 2 June, and this may be swept up by the faster CME’s produced by the M9 and M7 flares mentioned earlier.

Currently, there are eight numbered spotted active regions on the visible solar disk. The active region 14455 is the largest and most complex, displaying a so-called anti-Hale magnetic configuration. This means that the magnetic polarity is reversed from other northern solar hemisphere sunspots and this occurs in an estimated 3% of sunspots. Anti-Hale spots are twice as likely to flare as their more “normal” counterparts. AR 14458, 14459, 14460, and 14461 have each shown rapid growth. Each of these regions have been quiet flare-wise, as AR 14455 had produced nearly all of the solar flares so far today.

AR 14446 (largest spot right, just below center), 14452 (above and left of 14446), and 14450 (pair of spots, bottom), are about to rotate out of view.	Aside from a C1 and a SF from now spotless region 14449 (directly above 14446, right of 14452), this zone of the Sun has been quiet the whole day.
AR 14455 (just above image center) and 14458 (lower left).	AR 14455 had been active, but since 11:28 UT, it has only produced a C1/SF at 19:26 UT.
Two more potentially active sunspot groups include AR 14462 (near solar limb upper left) and 14459 (just right of image center).	Despite the rapid growth of these regions they have remained quiet all day long. AR 14462 does show some bright plage.

Solar activity is expected to be at moderate levels through 5 June, with M-class flares likely and a slight chance for an X-class flare. The active regions most likely to do this are 14455, 14458, 14461, and 14462.

June 2, 2026

Solar activity reached moderate levels with several C-class flares and three M-class flares, all occurring since 2:00 UT today. AR 14455 produced an M1.2/1N at 10:05 UTC today (2 June) and an M3.3/2B flare at 16:50 UT today. The frequency of C-class flares has picked up since yesterday. There are ten numbered and one unnumbered active regions / sunspot groups on the visible solar disk. AR 14446 had some minor growth while AR 14449 fragmented in its leading sunspot area while experiencing some growth with new magnetic flux emergence. AR 14455 continues to fragment some but it had gotten more active in the last day. AR 14457 has grown and lengthened some, while new active regions (AR 14460 and 14461) rotated into view. AR 14459 emerged and grew some near the solar east limb.

The first image immediately below is today’s M3.3 flare near maximum brightness. The bright patches are the flare itself, and a dark surge is seen extending downward from the maim complex of flare. We watched as all this evolved over the next hour or so.

This part of the Sun remains quiet as these sunspot groups are about to rotate out of view.	While no flares have been recorded from this part of the Sun, these regions continue to contribute to an elevated chance of isolated M-class flares.
AR 14455 (upper right) with AR 14458 (lower left).	AR 14455 has been the source of the majority of today’s flares, with 14458 contributing a few optical subflares.

Solar activity is expected to be low through 4 June with a continued chance for isolated M-class flares.

June 1, 2026

Solar activity continues to be low, with only weak C-class flare activity yesterday and into today. In fact, the only reported flare so far today (through 22:40 UT) was a C1.5/SF at 5:19 UT from AR 14448. The last M-class flare was an M1.1 at 7:05 UT on the 29th of May; the most recent X-flare happened on 24 April, an X2.5. So, overall, the Sun seems to be quieting down.

AR 14446 continues to decay while producing low-level C-class flare, but none have come from this region so far today. AR 14455 is also decaying, and AR 14456 became spotless late yesterday. There were two CMEs, one from the southwest observed at approximately 13:30 UT on 31 May. This event came from beyond the western limb of the Sun and will miss Earth. Another CME also came from the southwest disk of the Sun and was observed about 17:15 UT on 31 May. This likely came from AR 14447.

There are a total of nine spotted active regions on the visible solar disk today. Most seem to be in a state of decay but a few, such as AR 14458, have just emerged onto the visible solar disk. The X-ray flux background has been largely below the C1.0 level over the last three days; it is currently at B6.

Five ARs (labeled) are visible in this image. Two of these are about to rotate out of view.	This zone of the Sun has largely been quiet, except for a single C1 region from AR 14448 (not visible, near top center edge of image).
A 14455 (large spot upper right) and newly-emerged AR 14458 (lower left) grace the center of the solar disk.	This zone has been largely quiet over the last two days or so. AR 14455 appears to be in decay, while 14458 develops.

Solar activity is expected to be low to moderate through 2 June, with a chance for an isolated M-class flare. The probability for an M-class flare decreases further on 3 June as multiple potential source regions rotate over the western solar limb.

May 28, 2026

Solar activity continues to be at low levels. The largest event for both yesterday and today (so far, as of 23:00 UT) was a C3.4 flare from AR 14446 at 12:16 UT on 27 May. This was the only recorded flare from this region from both yesterday and today. AR 14455 continues to rotate into better view and has produced the occasional flare. Yesterday’s other two C-class flares came from AR 14454, and the reported events of today came from AR 14447 (C1.1 at 8:00 UT) and AR 14455 (C1.8 at 10:09 UT). AR 14452 produced today’s largest flare (so far), a C3.2 (15:16 UT) with a pair of optical subflares (15:15 and 15:18 UT).

AR’s 14455 and 14446 are the disk’s largest and second largest active region today, at 450 and 400 MSH (millionths of solar hemisphere). AR 14446 is the most magnetically complex region on the visible disk, with a “beta-gamma” magnetic type. AR 14455 has an “alpha” magnetic type. These are two of ten numbered active regions on the visible disk. One notable region is AR 14452, which had experienced growth and new flux emergence since yesterday. Two days ago it was a relatively simple, unnumbered bipolar spot group. AR 14445 decayed into plage but an unrelated spot has popped up near the plage. AR 14450 also decayed to plage and tinier pores re-emerged near its former location. The rest of the active regions were either stable or in slow decay.

There was a coronal mass ejection CME), a faint, narrow one which was first spotted via SOHO’s LASCO C2 coronagraph camera at approximately 23:00 UT on 27 May. The newer CCOR1 instrument “saw” it at 0:45 UT, 28 May. They have not been able to determine the source of this phenomenon, but it is expected to have minor impacts on 31 May. No other CME’s were noted.

The first image at left is a far side image of the sunspots taken on 17 May by Europe’s Solar Orbiter probe. The second is a GONG image showing the same spot groups eleven days later. One can see how the circled complex of spot groups/active regions (left) have decayed considerably. The long string of spots just right of image center (left image) decayed entirely; the feature on the right near its former location is an unrelated new spot group. Even AR 14455 (left edge of both images, above center) has shown some decay. It is interesting to follow the growths and decays of the various sunspot groups as they grace the solar disk. (Left image source: spaceweather.com)

The first column below includes red continuum images, each 0.09 sec exposure; and the second column hosts H-alpha line center images, each 0.15 sec exposure and enhanced slightly to bring out detail. Each of the six images covers 7.8’x11.4′ on the sky. Celestial north is up, west is right in each image.

The active region complex seems to be decaying over time.	This zone of the Sun had been relatively quiet over the last day or so.
AR 14452 (right) is emerging and growing. The regions east of it have decayed with only transient pores emerging in their places.	This image shows three filaments (two long ones left of center and a short one below image center), along with AR 14452.
AR 14455 continues to rotate into better view. It is a bipolar sunspot group.	AR 14455 is mainly quiet, but has flared occasionally, including a C1.5/SF at 16:37 UT today.

Solar activity is expected to be at low to moderate levels through 30 May, with a chance for isolated M-class flares.

May 26, 2026

Solar activity remains at low levels. The largest flaring event so far today and since yesterday was a C9.7 from AR 14446 at 12:38 UT today. The only other notable event today was a C2.4/SF from AR 14448 at 7:17 UT. An unnamed source produced a C1.6 flare at 14:00 UT today. From then until 20:00 UT, the background X-ray flux level has remained flat, hovering along the C1.0 level. There had been some weak C1-C2 activity since then (through 21:10 UT). There are eleven numbered and one unnumbered sunspot groups on the visible disk today. All these regions were largely stable or in a very slow decay process.

The first column below includes red continuum images, each 0.15 sec exposure; and the second column hosts H-alpha line center images, each 0.15 sec exposure and enhanced slightly to bring out detail. Each of the six images covers 7.8’x11.4′ on the sky. Celestial north is up, west is right in each image.

The southwest part of the solar disk is mostly quiet, with only two small spotted regions preparing to rotate out of view.	This part of the solar disk features some faint prominences and filaments in addition to small active regions.
Six of the twelve visible active regions (labeled) are visible in this image.	During the short observing session this zone on the sun was completely quiet.
Moving the view just north of the above image, four small spot groups appear.	These four small spot groups are largely hidden from view in the H-alpha image.

Solar activity is expected to be at low to moderate levels through 28 May, with a chance for isolated M-class flares.

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May 15, 2026

Solar activity remains at low levels but came very close to elevating to moderate levels. All three of the visible spotted active regions produced C-class flares the last two days, but AR 14435 produced the vast majority of them, the largest a near-M-class flare (C9.5/SF) that peaked at 16:14 UT as we started to observe that region. Then there was a long-duration C5.1/SF from AR 14436, which peaked at 18:21 UT on 14 May. This was the second peak of a complex flare that also included X-ray emissions from the west limb of the Sun. AR 14438 grew significantly and contributed to some of the B-class and C-class flares. All this activity launched multiple CMEs over the past 24 hours. One source was the “fluffy filament” in the northwest solar disk that we had been watching all week launched off the Sun around 12:30 UT yesterday; another lifted off the southwest part of the solar disk around 1:00 UT 15 May; a third filament disappeared after a C3.3 flare from AR 14436.

Since the C9 flare, the Sun had remained quiet through at least 22:00 UT today. The X-ray flux background has decreased over the last day or so with the active region AR 14432 rotating further over the solar horizon; it sits at B3.6 level as of 22:06 UT.

The first image below is a red continuum image, 0.09 sec exposure; the second and third images are H-alpha line center images, each 0.15 sec exposure and enhanced slightly to bring out detail. Each of the three images covers 7.8’x11.4′ on the sky. Celestial north is up, west is right in each image.

There remains three spotted active regions, shown above. The rest of the solar disk is blank.

The spotted active regions are identified in this image, taken a few minutes after the peak of the C9 flare (two bright spots, right, near edge of Sun).

The rest of the solar disk is mostly blank with a few miscellaneous filaments, included the one shown above.

Solar activity is expected to remain low with a chance for M-class flares through 17 May.

May 14, 2026

Solar activity continues at low levels with only low-level C-class flares from ARs 14435. AR 14435 was the only region to show growth and was the source of the largest flare of the day so far: a C5.5/SF that peaked at 6:42 UT today (14 May). The largest flare (so far) was a C2.3 that peaked at 6:40 UT on 13 May. AR 14436 produced three minor C-class flares between 16:30 and 18:30 UT, 13 May. AR 14332 had rotated over the solar limb and was the likely source for two C-class flares: a C1.4 at 19:48 UT on 13 May, and a C1.6 at 2:12 UT on 14 May. The former produced a coronal mass ejection, first sighted by SOHO’s LASCO/C2 instrument at 23:00 UT on 13 May.

Today, AR 14435 produced almost all of the flares, nine in total from 0:00 to 16:00 UT today. A long duration C4.4 flare, peaking at 17:39 UT, beginning with a more “spikey” initial C2.4 event at 17:23 UT. This likely came from AR 14432. A continuation of this event through 20:00 UT, with a peak at C5.0 and 18:40 UT came from AR 14436.

The first column below includes red continuum images, each 0.09 sec exposure; and the second column hosts H-alpha line center images, each 0.15 sec exposure and enhanced slightly to bring out detail. Each of the six images covers 7.8’x11.4′ on the sky. Celestial north is up, west is right in each image.

AR 14433 in the process of transitioning into spotless plage, visible as a tiny dark spot amidst the cluster of bright spots near the limb of the Sun.	The plage region of AR 14433 (arrowed) shows itself in H-alpha. It is about to rotate over the western limb.
AR 14438 (just right of center) and 14435 (near the solar edge at right) show as pairs of spots each.	AR 14435 (far right) has been active over the last day. It showed a B7.7 enhancement in brightness at 15:59 UT today.
AR 14436 sits alone in a large blank region of solar disk, it has filled in a bit since yesterday.	AR 14436 and its accompanying filaments. This region has been quiet since yesterday.

Solar activity is expected to remain at low levels through 16 May, with a chance for M-class flares.

May 13, 2026

Solar activity remained at low levels with low-level C-class flares from ARs 14432 (currently rotating off the disk), 14433, and 14436. The largest flare (so far) was a C2.3 that peaked at 6:40 UT on 13 May. Two new spotted groups emerged on the visible disk (AR 14437, about to rotate out of view over the western limb) and 14438 (east of 14435). There are a total of five numbered active regions on the visible solar disk.

Some activity among the filaments just east of AR 14436 (but included in its zone of influence) began shortly after the conclusion of today’s observing session. It was a series of 8 or 9 low level C-class flares, the first of which peaked at 16:54UT and the last at 18:25 UT. None of the accompanying filaments appear to be disturbed much by this activity.

The first column below includes red continuum images, each 0.09 sec exposure; and the second column hosts H-alpha line center images, each 0.15 sec exposure and enhanced slightly to bring out detail. Each of the six images covers 7.8’x11.4′ on the sky. Celestial north is up, west is right in each image.

AR 14433 (the dark spot near top center) slowly approaches the edge of the Sun, carried along by the Sun’s rotation.	AR 14433 is now near bottom center, allowing a view of the long thin filament north of it.
AR 14435 is the largest region easily seen in this image. AR 14432 is barely visible as an indentation in the sun’s edge at the lower right corner of the image. East (left) of 14435 is a small cluster of tiny spots, AR 14438. AR 14437 appear as an elongated bright patch near the edge of the Sun, lower right.	All of the features, except for AR 14435, seem to disappear into the H-alpha field. This entire zone of the Sun appears very quiet. Space Weather Prediction Center still forecasts a slight chance of an X-class flare from AR 14432 on the limb of the Sun through the end of today (13 May).
AR 14436 continues its steady pace across the disk of the Sun.	AR 14436 and its environs. This region had been producing lots of low-level C-class flares recently.

Solar activity is expected to remain at low levels through 15 May, with a chance for M-class flares.

May 12, 2026

Solar activity returned to low levels. There has only been low-level C-class flare activity yesterday through today. Four minor C-class flares came from AR 14432 early today (UT), and two more weak C-class flares came from AR 14436 later today, at 12:49 and 17:17. The strongest event today was a C2.0 from AR 14436 at 12:49 UT. AR 14431 rotated over the western solar limb, leaving four visible spotted active regions. ARs 14432, 14433, and 14436 decayed while AR 14435 remained stable.

The first column below includes red continuum images, each 0.09 sec exposure; and the second column hosts H-alpha line center images, each 0.15 sec exposure and enhanced slightly to bring out detail. Each of the six images covers 7.8’x11.4′ on the sky. Celestial north is up, west is right in each image.

Large AR 14432 (lower right near edge) has begun to rotate out of view. AR 14435 (top center) is following behind.	This part of the Sun had been largely quiet. Some limb features (prominences) are visible just below departing spot 14432.
The single spot top center is AR 14433. It is the only spotted region left after AR 14431 rotated out of view.	This zone of the Sun also remains quiet.
AR 14436 is the only sunspot group 1n the eastern half of the solar disk.	AR 14436 as it appeared between an X-ray flare (peaked 15 minutes ago) and an optical sub flare (peaked at 18:00 UT).

Solar activity is expected to remain at low levels through 14 May. There is a slight chance for an isolated X-class flare through the end of 12 May due to AR’s 14432 and 14436, but this goes away as the former rotates over the western limb and the latter slowly decays. There is a decreasing chance (20% today then going down from there) of an M-class flare through 14 May.

May 11, 2026

With the technical issue seemingly resolved and the return of better weather, daily solar observations have resumed.

Solar activity had reached moderate levels yesterday with an M5.7/2B flare at 13:39 UT on 10 May from AR 14436. This region produced a rather large flare (an M2.6 at 15:10 UT on 7 May) just before it rotated into view last week. Yesterday’s event generated a partial halo coronal mass ejection that became visible at 13:48 UT in LASCO C2 imagery. The CME will pass west of the Sun-Earth line sometime around 0h UT on 13 May. AR 14432, which developed a few days ago, is the largest and most complex sunspot group on the visible solar disk but it is about to rotate over the west limb. It produced a few C1 type flare events. The other three active regions are unremarkable.

The first column below includes red continuum images, each 0.15 sec exposure; and the second column hosts H-alpha line center images, each 0.15 sec exposure and enhanced slightly to bring out detail. Each of the six images covers 7.8’x11.4′ on the sky. Celestial north is up, west is right in each image.

AR 14432 (right edge) prepares to exit the visible solar disk, with AR 14435 (top center) remaining simple in appearance.

The two aforementioned regions in H-alpha. AR 14432 had produced a C1.8/SF flare event nearly two hours earlier, at 14:15 UT.

AR 14433 (top center) and 14431 (right, near solar edge) as viewed in red continuum light.

In H-alpha, AR 14431 nearly disappears, but AR 14433 remains easily visible.

AR 14436 comes into better view, carried along by the solar rotation. It does not look too impressive.

AR 14436 was the source of a B7.8 enhancement around 6:36 UT today, but has been entirely quiet all day

Solar activity is expected to remain at low levels through 13 May. There is a fairly decent chance for an M-class flare and a slight chance for an X-class flare, from either AR 14432 or 14336.

May 4, 2026

While running some tests for an upgrade, we were able to get the system up and running long enough to capture a set of red continuum images and their calibration images. At the time of these images, the Sun had been quiet, with many sunspot groups visible on the solar disk. The Sun had been quiet for weeks, but on 23 April, AR 14419 produced two X-class flares within 7 hours of each other, an event known as “sympathetic flare pair”. The first was an X2.4 that peaked at 1:07 UT, and the second was an X2.5 that peaked at 8:13 UT. Aside from an M6 flare a day later, the Sun had become quiet once again and has been so to this day.

The weather had not been the best for solar observations for most of April and continuing into May. Uninterrupted sunny periods have been few and far between, so there had not been much opportunity to make many observations aside from routine visual sunspot counts.

Solar activity had returned to moderate levels today, with an M1.8 flare at 1:33 UTC on 4 May from AR 14424. This is one of nine spotted active regions on the visible disk of the Sun today. Of these, AR 14425, 14428, and 14431 showed signs of magnetic decay; while AR 14429 showed signs of growth by gaining additional small spots and consolidating its existing spots. The rest of the active regions were stable, quiet, and unremarkable.

Each of the images below are red-continuum images, each 0.15 sec exposure. Each covers 7.8’x11.4′ on the sky. Celestial north is up, west is right in each image. Communication failed and became unreliable before H-alpha observations were able to be made, then the skies clouded up by midday.

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Solar activity is expected to be low, with a chance for M-class flares through 6 May.

The issues experienced over the last three months had been traced to a USB cable connecting computer with mount. The mount controls the telescope and camera. A search is underway for the spare cable, or a replacement will be ordered. Once this is completed, we should be able to resume observations while we work on upgrading the equipment.

February 26, 2026

Solar activity reached moderate levels yesterday (25 February) due to an M2.3 flare from AR 14379 at 15:59 UT. This region is coming into better view as the Sun’s rotation carries it around the east limb. It is actually two regions, the trailing region was designated AR 14380. Today’s strongest event was a C6.3 flare at 19:09 UTC from beyond the east limb. Currently, three designated active regions are visible on the solar disk, with a small pair os spots appearing in the northwest quadrant of the disk (it has not yet been numbered). A 15 degree long filament erupted from the southeastern limb/disk of the Sun.

Observations were again made under less-than-ideal conditions, with abundant cumulus cloud, persistent equipment problems, and limited observing time. We were not able to obtain H-alpha images, only white light images due to these factors. Each of the below images cover 7.8’x11.4′ on the sky, are 0.09 second exposures, and are set so that celestial north is up, west is right.

AR 14378 is the lone spot in the above image. It may be the leftover of AR 14366, which graced the Sun’s disk during the last rotation.

A string of spots is visible in this image. The leading pair, oriented vertically, is AR 14379. The remaining spots closer to the limb make up AR 14380.

Solar activity is expected to be at low levels through 1 March with a chance for isolated M-class flare activity.

This will be the last posting as the observation program shuts down due to equipment issues and needed upgrades.

February 24, 2026

Solar activity was very low all day yesterday, with the background X-ray flux “flatlining” to as low as B2.9 level. It has since returned to low levels with a C1.0 flare today (24 February) at 7:33 UT, from an active region just beyond the SE limb, near latitude S21. The Sun returned to spotless today but some signs of change in the solar activity has been presenting itself, with a steadily increasing X-ray flux background. Since 7:33 UT, there had been a series of undulations taking on the form of five broad peaks and 9 shorter peaks in the C-class range of the X-ray flux plot. One peaked at C2.9 at 13:02UT; another at C4.5 (the largest of today so far, through 23:35 UT) at 17:12; and a series of 3 shorter peaks with the first one at 18:49 at C3.5. The X-ray background has been steadily decreasing since, but it has stayed above the C1.0 level all day.

The first column below includes red continuum images, each 0.09 sec exposure; and the second column hosts H-alpha line center images, each 0.15 sec exposure. Each of the four images covers 7.8’x11.4′ on the sky. Celestial north is up, west is right in each image.

This frame is centered near the center of the solar disk, and only granulation is visible in this frame. There had been a small cluster of pores but they have since dissipated.	The same area of the Sun as depicted immediately left, reveals the overall H-alpha texture and several filaments. The bright patch along the left of the image is an artifact of the imaging system setup.
The ENE limb of the Sun shows possibly a pore along with several faculae (bright patches).	The arrow points to some limb activity in H-alpha that may be heralding the return of AR 14366. The bright patch is internal system reflection of H-alpha light.

Solar activity is expected to be very low, with a chance for C-class flares and a very slight chance (1%) for an M-class flare through 26 February.

February 23, 2026

Solar activity continues to be at low levels as the Sun becomes spotless. That feat was actually achieved yesterday when the disk was virtually spotless. However, there were four low-level C-class flares yesterday. One was a long-duration C1.5 flare at 16:41 UTC on 22 February from an active region over the WSW limb. A 15 degree long prominence erupted off the SE limb at about 15:30 UTC on 22 February. The active regions that were expected to rotate into view by the end of last week never materialized. However, AR 14366 is expected to return in the next several days. It had been monitored (along with five additional much smaller spot groups) by the Mars Perseverance rover as the spot group crossed the far side of the Sun. Mars and the rover are on the far side of the Sun as seen from Earth. The below image, from spaceweather.com and NASA from 19 February.

Meanwhile today’s “nearside” solar image from the GONG (Global Oscillation Network Group) network of solar observatories reveals a much different picture:

Solar activity is expected to be very low, with a chance for C-class flares and a slight chance for an M-class flare, through 25 February.

February 19, 2026

Solar activity continues to be at low levels as the Sun becomes more spotless. There are only three spotted active regions on the visible solar disk, a larger spot and two small spot groups. An unnumbered region of plage produced a C2.1 flare at 20:42 UT, mentioned below on 18 February. Another unnumbered plage region produced a C2.0 flare from near N20W48 (the northwest quadrant). AR 14374 produced a C1.0 at 10:15 UT today, 19 February. AR 14374 is simplifying some as is AR 14377; AR 14375 remained stable. A filament disappeared in the northwest quadrant of the solar disk at approximately 21:00 UT on 18 February. Most of the material likely fell back to the solar surface.

Observations were again made under less-than-ideal conditions, with haze, abundant cumulus cloud, and limited observing time. Exposures were lengthened due to the presence of haze. The first column below includes red continuum images, each 0.15 sec exposure; and the second column hosts H-alpha line center images, each 0.25 sec exposure. Each of the four images covers 7.8’x11.4′ on the sky. Celestial north is up, west is right in each image.

AR 14375 (top center) and 14374 (right).	AR 14374 has produced an occasional low level C-class flare but has been quiet.
AR 14377 continues to be small and simple.	AR 14377 almost disappears in this image, which features a few small filaments.

Solar activity is expected to be low, with a slight chance for an M-class flare, through 22 February.

February 18, 2026

Solar activity remains at low levels. The strongest event, both yesterday and today (through 21:55 UT 18 February) was a long duration C2.2 flare peaking at 20:42 UT from an unnumbered region near S07 E61. AR 14374 produced a C1.8 flare at 23:23 UT, 17 February; and a C1.4 flare at 0:50 UT on 18 February. An unnumbered region (possibly the source of today’s C2) produced a C1.1 flare from near S05 E85. AR 14374 is slowly decaying, and AR 14373 has rotated over the western limb. There are a total of three spotted regions currently, AR 14374, 14375, and 14377. The latter two were mostly unchanged from yesterday.

Another large filament erupted from beyond the southwestern limb starting at about 4:08 UT on 18 February. This produced a CME that will miss Earth. This is likely the same filament that graced the southern part of the solar disk last week.

Observations were again made under less-than-ideal conditions. Exposures were lengthened due to the presence of high cirrus clouds. The first column below includes red continuum images, each 0.15 sec exposure; and the second column hosts H-alpha line center images, each 0.25 sec exposure. Each of the four images covers 7.8’x11.4′ on the sky. Celestial north is up, west is right in each image.

AR 14374 starts to approach the western limb. It is the largest spot currently visible on the Sun.	AR 14374 had produced an occasional C-class flare but this part of the Sun has been quiet overall.
AR 14377 (left) and 14375 (right) continue to persist on the solar disk.	AR 14377 and 14375, along with a lengthening filament, are visible in the above image.

Solar activity is expected to be low, with a slight chance for an M-class flare, through 20 February.

February 17, 2026

Solar activity was very low to low. A filament erupted and generated a C1.0 flare from an unnumbered region just behind the SE limb of the Sun. AR 14374 has grown slightly, with the rest of the sunspot groups (three in total, including 14374) remaining stable. A filament just south of disk-center began to erupt yesterday (16 February) around 12:30 UT. This produced a very faint CME that continued off the northeast limb.

Observations were made under less-than-ideal conditions. Exposures were lengthened due to the presence of high cirrus clouds. The first column below includes red continuum images, each 0.15 sec exposure; and the second column hosts H-alpha line center images, each 0.25 sec exposure.Each of the four images covers 7.8’x11.4′ on the sky. Celestial north is up, west is right in each image.

AR 14373 (top center) and 14373 (lower right on Sun’s edge).	AR 14374 has been quiet all day today, as has this zone of the Sun.
AR 14377 (left of center) and 14375 (right, on edge of frame), two tiny spot groups.	AR 14377 is marked by bright plage (left) and a filament (just right of image center) is visible in this region of the Sun.

Solar activity is expected to be low through 18 February with a slight chance of an M-class flare.

February 16, 2026

Solar activity reached moderate levels early today after an M2.4 flare that peaked at 4:35 UTC today (16 February). This came from an active region over the east limb and much of its energy was blocked by the Sun. This region will rotate into view sometime later this week. After this event, solar activity dropped to very low levels with only a C1.0 at 13:06 and an optical sub-flare from AR 14374 at 15:36. All five visible active regions were stable.

AR 14374 (upper left) and 14373 (lower right) are the two largest spot groups on the visible solar disk.	Small localized brightenings were observed next to each of these regions during today’s observations, but were not recorded as sub-flare events by NOAA.
This nearly blank region of the Sun contains two small spotted groups: AR 14377 near image center, and 14376 (single spot) above and right of it.	This zone of the Sun hides the two tiny spot groups in H-alpha texture, but AR 14377 shows as a bright spot

Solar activity is expected to be low through 18 February with a slight chance of an M-class flare.

February 12, 2026

Solar activity continued at moderate levels through early today with two M1.4 flares: one at 13:12 UT on 11 February, and the second at 2:40 UT today, 12 February, from newly-departed AR 14366. This region was the source of six C-class flares. Since the second M1.4 flare, solar activity returned to low levels, with the background X-ray levels steadily sloping downward as AR 14366 rotates further beyond the west limb. AR 14373 has shown some modest growth and additional sunspots; ARs 14369 and 14371 showed some minor decay. The rest of the regions were unchanged.

The first column below includes red continuum images, each 0.09 sec exposure; and the second column hosts H-alpha line center images, each 0.15 sec exposure. Each of the images covers 7.8’x7.8′ on the sky, unless indicated otherwise. Celestial north is up, west is right in each image.

The AR 14369/14368 pair (upper right) is about to rotate out of view.	This zone of the Sun has been quiet.
AR 14373 (above) is the only spot group in a large “sea” of featureless solar disk.	AR 14373 has remained quiet all day.
This 7.8’x11.4′ image depicts AR 14374 (right of image center) and 14375 (upper left) as they rotate into better view.	This 7.8’x11.4′ image shows the same view as at left, but in H-alpha. This zone of the Sun remains quiet as well.

Solar activity is expected to be low, with a slight chance for M-class flares through 14 February.

February 11, 2026

Solar activity remained at moderate levels today. The largest was an M1.2 at 13:12 UT today from AR 14366. This region also produced a long duration, double-peaked M1.1 event, first peak at 0:44 UT. AR 14366 also produced eight C-class flares yesterday and today. AR 14366 has rotated over the west limb of the Sun and it was not visible either visually or in images taken this afternoon. Some modest limb activity in H-alpha marked the location of the region just over the solar limb. AR 14371 , 14373, and 14374 each produced C-class flares yesterday into this afternoon. AR 14371 and 14369 are in decay, with the other numbered active regions remaining stable. There is another region (AR 14375) that rotated into view behind AR 14374, but this was quiet.

A large filament in the northwest quadrant of the solar disk lifted off and disappeared around 19:10 UT on 10 February. There was possibly another eruption from the west southwest limb of the Sun, seen around 19:24 UT and superimposed on the eruption from the filament. It is yet to be determined if all this has generated a coronal mass ejection.

AR 14369 (upper most right), 14368 (upper right) and 14371 (just below and left of image center) appear modest in this view.	This zone of the Sun had been mostly quiet, except for an occasional C-class flare from AR 14371.
AR 14374 (upper left) and 14373 (lower right) appear rather simple in this view.	Each of these regions have produced low-level C-class flares today and yesterday.

Solar activity is expected to be low through 13 February. There remains a slight chance (10-15%) for an M-class and/or X-class flaring from over the western limb by AR 14366.

February 9, 2026

Solar activity reached moderate levels yesterday and early today, before returning to low levels all day today. AR 14366 produced two M-class flares, the largest of which was an M2.8 at 2:27 UT today (9 February). The region continues to be the largest, most magnetically complex on the visible solar disk, but it is approaching the western limb. It has also been on a slow decay. AR 14374 rotated into view and produced a C6.6 flare at 8:36 UT on the 9th. This, and the other active regions on the solar disk were largely stable. AR 14366, beside the M2.8 today, produced 6 C-class flares, the most recent of which occurred at 15:36 UT. Then it went quiet for the rest of the day (through 23:15 UT). AR 14374 produced another C-class flare, a C3.0 at 18:17 UT today.

AR 14366 (right, near edge of Sun) prepares to rotate out of view. The remaining spots are (top to bottom) AR 14367, 14369, and 14368.	This zone of the Sun, as well as the rest of the Sun, has been mainly quiet for the duration of our long observing session today.
AR 14374 (left, near edge of Sun) and 14373 (right) are the only spotted regions on the eastern half of the solar disk.	AR 14374 (near the edge of the Sun) produced two C-class flares so far today.

Solar activity is expected to be moderate with M-class flares likely and a chance for an X-class flare from AR 14366 through 11 February.

February 6, 2026

Solar activity returned to low levels today. Since the last of a series of M-class flares (an M1.1 at 22:18 UT yesterday, 5 February, from AR 14272, which has decayed to plage), there has been no further M-class flare activity today, through 23:15 UT. The most powerful flare of yesterday was a long duration M2.7 at 4:41 UT on 5 February from AR 14366. This region continues to slowly decline in magnetic complexity and optical appearance and today’s activity level matches these observations. AR 14371, however, showed rapid growth and became more magnetically complex. AR 14362 has also grown some and together with AR 14371, was the source for most of the C- and M-class flares yesterday. Today, only C-class flares, mostly from AR 14366; the strongest was a C6.9 at 10:20 UT today, 6 February. All of the other visible spotted active regions (there are seven total) were stable or in decay.

A coronal mass ejection launched off the south/southwest limb at 15:48 UT on 5 February, likely from the M1.8/1N flare that was produced from AR 14362, which peaked at 15:13 UT on 5 February. We observed part of the tail end of this event. This CME may graze the Earth’s magnetic field anytime between late on 8 February and early on 9 February (UT).

Four spotted active regions (labeled) cross the center of the Solar disk.	AR 14366 (right) has become increasingly quiet, only producing a few C-class flares today.
The two spots in the upper right appear in the top image. The one near bottom, left of center, is AR 14371.	AR 14371 (left), and 14368 (upper right) along with a filament (bottom center). AR 14371 is becoming increasing

Solar activity is expected to be moderate to high due to continued M-class flaring with a chance for an X-class flare from AR 14366 through 8 February.

February 5, 2026

Solar activity was high due to the frequent occurrences of M-class flares from various regions today. There were ten M-class flares from three regions (AR 14362, 14366, and 14372). AR 14366 contributed most of these as it slowly decays and simplifies. AR 14369 grew some while 14370 decayed, and the remainder of the regions were stable or in decay.

We monitored AR 14366 for most of the day today. We managed to observe one M-class flare but the other M-class flares that occurred during the period were from AR 14362 (two events, an M1.8 and an M2.2). No further X-class flare has happened since the impulsive X4.2 at 12:13 UT on 4 February.

AR 14366 (larger spot group) is being trailed by 14367 (left).	AR 14366 has been the source of a couple M-class flares today.
Four spotted active regions are visible in this image.	This part of the Sun has been mainly quiet today.

Solar activity is expected to be moderate to high due to continued M-class flaring with a good chance for an X-class flare from AR 14366 through 7 February.

February 4, 2026

Solar activity remains at high levels due to the ongoing activity of AR 14366. It produced an X4.2 today at 12:12 UT today. This occurred nearly a day after an X1.5 flare at 14:08 UT on 3 February, followed by an M7.2. There has been a slight shrinkage in spot area, with the visual appearance of the spot group this morning being a little simpler than in previous days. It is by far the largest spot group of the 9 visible active regions, at 1100 MSH. AR 14372, in the southeast quadrant of the solar disk, emerged yesterday but is already in decay today. AR 14358 developed a few new sunspots after decaying to a spotless region yesterday. AR 14371 is showing growth, as is AR 14362. The rest of the active regions were stable or in slight decay.

A large filament slowly erupted from the northwest quadrant of the solar disk beginning at 4:00 UT yesterday, 3 February. This generated a CME that lifted off the northwest limb around 18:00 UT. Several other filaments are visible today across the solar disk, as well as a well developed hedgerow prominence on the east southeastern limb.

Observations resumed today but with glitches in communication between the mount and computer ongoing. AR 14366 produced an M1.8 flare at 15:34 UT, prior to our opening the dome at 17:00 UT. However, since opening and through our closure at 20:02 UT due to overspreading mid- to high-level clouds, solar activity dropped back to low levels. There had not been any further M-class activity since this morning’s M1.8, through 23:20 UT today (4 February).

AR 14366 is the largest spot group on the visible disk.	AR 14366 was the most active spot group, and had been for four days now.
Many small active regions trail AR 14366.	These regions have been comp

Solar activity is expected to be moderate to high due to continued M-class flaring with a good chance for an X-class flare from AR 14366 through 6 February.

February 2, 2026

Another attempt to collect solar observations was made this morning. The connection was successfully established with the mount and camera, but when commanded to slew to the Sun, the mount put itself in a safe mode and would not move. This error repeated for all three of the attempts made. We will be making further attempts to get the problem fixed Wednesday and Thursday of this week.

Solar activity has surged to very high levels in the last two days. A new spot group appeared on the Sun and grew explosively. It was invisible on the 28th of January, appeared as a simple pair of spots on the 29th, added new spots and began to fill in on the 30th; by the 31st it had grown dramatically and continued to do so through the 1st and 2nd of February. This is AR 14366, which, in the past 24 hours or so, produced 23 M-class flares and 4 X-class flares, the largest of which was an X8.1 that happened at 23:57 UT yesterday. The complex series of events launched a tangle of three coronal mass ejections into space, but they appear to be on track to mostly miss the Earth

This is an animated GIF image (click on the image for the animation) that shows the flare in action. It is an animated series of images taken in extreme ultraviolet light from the Solar Dynamics Observatory and posted to Spaceweather.com. Solar activity is expected to remain moderate through 4 February with frequent M-class flares (80% probability of occurrence) and occasional X-class flares (40 % probability of occurrence) due to AR 14366.

January 28, 2026

Solar activity reached has been low the last 7 days. The last X-class flare, an X1.9, was on 18 January; the last M-class flare, an M3.4, happened on 21 January. Unfortunately due to a malfunction in our system, we were unable to observe today after being offline for 9 days due to inclement weather. I have no information on when we will be able to remedy the issue, so for the foreseeable future, we will not be able to make further observations from the East Dome.

January 19, 2026

Solar activity reached high levels yesterday (18 January) as a result of a long-duration X1.9/3B flare from AR 14341. This event peaked at 18:09 UT on 18 January. This launched a coronal mass ejection that took only 25 hours to impact the Earth’s magnetic field, producing widespread bright aurorae in Europe. There are eleven spotted active regions on the Sun.

After the X1.9 flare, solar activity returned to moderate levels, before trending to low later in the day. AR 14345 produced an M1.1 flare at 11:19 UT on 19 January. It the produced 8 C-class flares, ranging from C2 to C8 throughout the day. Only one other region flared, AR 14342, producing a C2. AR 14341 remained quiet all day long.

The first column below includes red continuum images, each 0.15 sec exposure; and the second column hosts H-alpha line center images, each 0.15 sec exposure. Each of the images covers 7.8’x11.4′ on the sky, unless indicated otherwise. Celestial north is up, west is right in each image.

More spotted groups are visible on the Sun these days.	This zone on the Sun was rather active, with most of the flare activity coming from the small spot group below AR 14341.
Two spot groups are visible on this part of the Sun.	AR 14347 (single spot, left), and 14342 (just right of center).
Some additional spots trail the main centers of activity and are labeled above.	This zone of the solar disk, remains quiet for the time being.

Solar activity is likely to be moderate, with a slight chance of additional X-class flares through 21 January.

January 16, 2026

Solar activity was low. The largest flare so far today (through 22:30 UT, 16 Jan.) was a C6.6/SF from AR 14345, a newly formed region just south of AR 14341. AR 14341 continues to be the largest (420 MSH) and most complex (beta-gamma-delta magnetic configuration) active region on the visible solar disk but it also remained quiet all day. It only produced two optical subflares and a C1 so far today.

The first column below includes red continuum images, each 0.09 sec exposure; and the second column hosts H-alpha line center images, each 0.15 sec exposure. Each of the images covers 7.8’x11.4′ on the sky, unless indicated otherwise. Celestial north is up, west is right in each image.

AR 14336 departs over the west limb. It is the second largest spot at 150 MSH	AR 14336 (and this zone of the Sun) has been completely quiet today. Two filaments remain visible north of the region.
AR 14343 lower part) and 14340 (upper right). AR 14343 continues to grow while 14340 continues to decay.	AR 14343 was the source of 2 C1 flares and one c4 flare today. This was one of the most active spot groups today.
AR 14342 (top center), 14347 (single spot near limb, upper left) and 14341 (bottom center).	These regions were relatively quiet today. A filament is visible toward the right of the image.

Solar activity is expected to be low, with a chance for M-class flares and a slight chance for X-class flares through 18 January.

January 15, 2026

Solar activity was at moderate levels due to an M1.6 flare that happened at 20:33 UTC on 14 January from AR 14341. This region also produced a C9.7 flare at 6:36 UTC on 15 January. Since then, and through 00:10 UTC, 16 January, solar activity returned to low levels, with only infrequent low-level C-class flaring. AR 14343 has grown quite a bit since yesterday, but was otherwise inactive. A Coronal Mass Ejection came from the area of AR 14340, but the bulk of this debris has been launched northward and is expected to miss the Earth.

The first column below includes red continuum images, each 0.09 sec exposure; and the second column hosts H-alpha line center images, each 0.15 sec exposure. Each of the images covers 7.8’x11.4′ on the sky, unless indicated otherwise. Celestial north is up, west is right in each image.

The lone spot AR 14336 is rotating toward the limb of the Sun.	This image also includes a filament (top center), along with an inactive AR 14336.
AR 14340 (top center) and 14343 (below left), the latter of which has grown since yesterday.	This zone of the sun remains quiet, with 14340 nearly disappearing in H-alpha.
AR 14341 (below left), 14342 (upper right) and 14343 (lower right),	AR 14341 (lower left) and 14342 (upper left), along with a filament (just right of image center).

Solar activity is expected to be low, with a 25-30% chance for M-class flares from 15 to 17 January.

January 14, 2026

Solar activity is now back to moderate levels. The largest flare over the last 7 days was an M3.3 at 23:10 UTC on 11 July from AR 14341, which was behind the solar limb at the time. Then there was a C9.6 at 3:50 UTC on 14 January. Just happened was an M1.6/1F at 20:32 UT from AR 14341. Slight decay occurred in AR 14334 (barely visible as a single spot) and 14336 (a large spot with a few attendants trailing behind). AR 14340, which emerged several days ago, has also demonstrated some decay. AR 14341 and 14342 are situated along the eastern limb of the Sun and contributed almost all of the flaring activity over the last two days.

The first column below includes red continuum images, each 0.09 sec exposure; and the second column hosts H-alpha line center images, each 0.15 sec exposure. Each of the images covers 7.8’x11.4′ on the sky, unless indicated otherwise. Celestial north is up, west is right in each image.

This active region sported many more spots a few days ago but has decayed to what is visible in this image.	AR 14336 along with a single filament (upper left quadrant of image). This part of the Sun has been quiet.
AR 14340 nearing the solar central meridian.	AR 14340 (top center) has been quiet. In the lower left corner, the bright spot marks another region emerging into view.
AR 14341 (bottom) and AR 14342 (top) are rotating into view. Small spots from a newly emerging sunspot group are visible in the lower right corner of the image.	AR 14341 and 14342 as they rotate into view, led by a filament (just right of image center). A new sunspot group is emerging (lower right corner).

Solar activity is expected to be low, with a 25% chance for M-class flares from 14 to 16 January.