‰ NOW 18 WPM transition file follows‰ I thought it was too early in the decline of this solar cycle to start seeing days with no sunspots, when the sunspot number is zero, but I was wrong. There were no sunspots on June 3 to 6. 2015 had zero spotless days, 2014 had just one, and there were no spotless days in 2012 and 2013. There were just two spotless days in 2011, so we have already seen twice the number of spotless days that 2011 had. 2010 had 51 spotless days, and 2009 had 260 spotless days. The last time there were four or more spotless days was December 18 to 24, 2010 when there were no sunspots for an entire week. The average daily sunspot number dropped to 7.7 this week, from 33 the week before. Average daily solar flux went from 87.4 to 80.7. Geomagnetic indicators were up slightly, with planetary A index going from 8.9 to 11.6 and mid latitude A index from 9 to 9.4. Daily sunspot number on June 7 to 9 was 12, 15 and 22, and daily solar flux was 78.5, 80.1 and 85.2. Predicted solar flux for the near term is 85, 90 and 95 on June 10 to 12, 90 on June 13 and 14, 95 on June 15 and 16, 90 on June 17 to 20, 85 on June 21 to 24, 80 on June 25 to 28, 78 on June 29 through July 4, 82 on July 5 to 7, 85 on July 8 to 11, 90 on July 12 to 17 and 85 on July 18 to 21. Predicted planetary A index is 8, 14, and 18 on June 10 to 12, then 12, 8 and 6 on June 13 to 15, 10 on June 16 to 18, 5 on June 19 to 22, then 10, 12 and 8 on June 23 to 25, 10 on June 26 and 27, 5 on June 28 through July 1, then 25, 20 and 8 on July 2 to 4, 5 on July 5 to 8, 12 on July 9 and 10, then 8 on July 11 and 12, then 5, 15 and 10 on July 13 to 15, and 5 on July 16 to 19. Increases of the solar wind from coronal holes are expected on June 11 to 13, 17 and 18, 23 and 24, 26 and 27, July 2 and 3. Average daily solar flux over this past week was 80.7, but back in December 2010 that week of no sunspot numbers had an average daily solar flux of 79.3, very close. Sunspot numbers are somewhat subjective, based on a visual count of sunspot groups, the number of sunspots in those groups, and the total area covered by sunspots. Instructions for starting or ending email distribution of ARRL bulletins are at //arrl.org/bulletins. Sunspot numbers were 27, 0, 0, 0, 0, 12, and 15, with a mean of 7.7. 10.7 cm flux was 85.2, 83.2, 80, 79.1, 78.5, 78.5, and 80.1, with a mean of 80.7. Estimated planetary A indices were 4, 3, 4, 29, 26, 9, and 6, with a mean of 11.6. Estimated mid latitude A indices were 5, 5, 5, 23, 21, 10, and 6 with a mean of 9.4. Smith activated the Cayman Islands for the first time ever on 6 meters as ZF1DT in 1968, and he led the 1970 KL7ABR DXpedition to Alaska 2 years later for the ARRL June VHF QSO Party. He was on the DXCC Honor Roll and had nearly completed DXCC on 6 meters. He also enjoyed collecting vintage and rare QSL cards. ‰ END OF 18 WPM transition file ƒ