Near Record Quiet (September 4, 2009)

Hi-res TIF image (199K)

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The Sun had no sunspots for 51 days in a row July 11 - Aug. 30, 2009 -- just nearly breaking the record of 52 days for the longest quiet period for this solar cycle. That record was set last summer. As we watch 50 days of that period with STEREO (Behind) in a wavelength of extreme UV light, we see some activity, such as prominences popping about here and there, but no active regions strong enough to form a sunspot. Late on Aug. 31, a little sunspot emerged (not shown in the clip that ends on Aug. 28th) to interrupt the long string of quiet days. Even so, this little sunspot measured about nearly 3000 km (1800 miles) across. Nevertheless, it is likely that the current year's number of blank days will be the longest in about 100 years. It is not shown many signs of picking up the pace so far.