‰ Now 18 WPM transition file follows ‰

Our Sun is still very quiet, but last weeks Propagation Forecast
Bulletin ARLP035 mentioned a new sunspot emerging on August 21 and
22.  Spaceweather.com showed the sunspot number on those days as 11,
which is the smallest non zero sunspot number.  Because of the way
the daily sunspot number is calculated, one sunspot gets ten points
for one group, and one point for one sunspot within that group.
Five sunspots in three groups yields a daily sunspot number of 35.
But the official sunspot number from NOAA showed zero on both days.
You can see it for yourself on the swpc.noaa.gov site.  It seems
that this little spot that tried to emerge never grew large enough
to be counted as a sunspot.  Instead it was just a little magnetic
wrinkle, but one interesting aspect was the polarity indicated a
Cycle 24 event, not Cycle 23 as we reported last week.  John
Andrews, W1TAG of Holden, Massachusetts wrote, Your current report
on the ARRL website indicates that the tiny sunspot presently
visible is from the old solar cycle. The current Mt. Wilson
magnetogram data shows a dipole with the south pole leading the
north, which in the northern hemisphere indicates a new cycle spot.
In a subsequent message, John wrote, On the other hand, those of us
playing at 505 and 137 kHz are quite delighted with the quiet Sun. A
little kick every now and then to recharge the supply of free
electrons, and were all set. The transatlantic stuff is MUCH easier
than it was 4 to 5 years ago.  Oh well, the pendulum will swing the
other way with a vengeance, Im sure. Then youll be happy, and Ill be
sad.  If we dont see any sunspots this weekend, Sunday will mark 42
consecutive days with no sunspots.  This will also bring the 3 month
moving average for daily sunspot numbers that we present monthly
clear down to 1R76, the lowest on this side of Cycle 23.  This would
be the three month average centered on July.  The 3 month moving
average of these numbers can be found in teleprinter and packet
versions of Propagation Forecast Bulletin ARLP036.  We calculated
the July 2008 average by adding together all daily sunspot numbers
from June 1 through August 31, then dividing by 92, the number of
days in that period.  Likewise, the June 2008 average used the sum
of all sunspot numbers from May 1 through July 31.  You can see why
many thought the minimum was last October, but weve instead reached
a new low for the recent period.  Sunspot numbers were 0, 0, 0, 0,
0, 0, and 0 with a mean of 0.  10R7 cm flux was 67R1, 67R6, 67R9,
67R1, 66R6, 66R9, and 66R6 with a mean of 67R1.  Estimated planetary
A indices were 4, 4, 2, 4, 2, 3 and 3 with a mean of 3R1.  Estimated
mid latitude A indices were 4, 2, 2, 2, 1, 1 and 2 with a mean of 2‚

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