Category Archives: Solar Cycles

Solar Cycle 25 now out of prediction bounds…

As I type this, my side of the planet has undergone a sudden R2 radio blackout due to a M 6.8 solar flare.  Sadly no 40/20/15 meter contacts for the next few hours. As I was confirming the flare, I … Continue reading

Posted in Propagation, Solar Cycles | Leave a comment

Solar Cycle 25 Continues to Amaze

The official prediction for Solar Cycle 25 was a bit disappointing, with most forecasters agreeing that it would be similar to Solar Cycle 24, and only a few suggesting it might be better. Well, in the 15 months since Solar … Continue reading

Posted in Propagation, Solar Cycles | 4 Comments

Increasing Solar Activity in Cycle 25 == DX fun!

Solar Cycle 25 is well underway with Sunspot Numbers at values not seen in six years! (Above the prediction for this early in the cycle 25).  I’ve been having fun on all the higher frequency bands recently, with 10/12/15 open … Continue reading

Posted in Cycle 25, DX, Propagation, Solar Cycles | Leave a comment

Solar Cycle 25 OFFICIALLY Underway

NASA and NOAA made the announcement earlier today: Solar Cycle 25 is underway, with Cycle 24 ending in December of 2019.  Their best estimate is that it will be similar to Cycle 24, so nothing to write home about, but … Continue reading

Posted in Propagation, Solar Cycles | Leave a comment

Solar Cycle 25 Prediction

Not all predictions are accurate, of course, but I bet the folks at NASA and the Solar Observatory have a good handle on things.  This was one of their predictions from early last year, based on some new observations of … Continue reading

Posted in Solar Cycles | Leave a comment

So what was going on in solar weather today?

I thought it might be useful to see what the solar conditions were this morning when I worked Alaska on 160-m.  We had a solar disturbance and sunspot making things interesting for us a few days ago (spot 2736), but … Continue reading

Posted in 160-Meters, Solar Cycles | Leave a comment

Has Solar Cycle 25 begun?

From SpaceWeather.com Over the weekend, a magnetically reversed sunspot appeared in the sun’s northern hemisphere. Its high latitude and “backwards” magnetic polarity mark it as a member of the next solar cycle. Is Solar Minimum over? Not even close, but … Continue reading

Posted in Solar Cycles | Leave a comment

Solar Cycle 25 Beginning?

Current solar cycle 24 is declining more quickly than forecast.  Will the solar minimum last longer, or does this signal that Cycle 25 is about to begin? Some helioscientists are saying that early signs of Solar Cycle 25 are already … Continue reading

Posted in Solar Cycles | Leave a comment

Year-end DX/WAS Summary

2017 was a slow year for DX & WAS.  I suspect due to a combination of working most of the easy ones and a rapidly declining Solar Cycle 24.  It is hard to imagine how poor things will be for … Continue reading

Posted in 160-Meters, DX, Propagation, Satellite, Solar Cycles, WAS | Leave a comment