Solar activity declined this week, with average daily sunspot numbers dropping from 139 to 122, and the average daily solar flux decreasing from 166.8 to 154.8. This contrasts the current reporting week of June 8 – 14with the previous 7 days.

The average daily planetary A index decreased from 7.3 to 5.7, and average daily middle latitude A index from 8.6 to 6.7.

On June 14, spaceweather.com reported two new sunspot groups emerging across the sun’s southeastern horizon.

Forecasters Gervase and Kiser of the U.S. Air Force predict that the solar flux will be 150 on June 15 – 16; 155 on June 17 – 18; 150, 155, 155, and 165 on June 19 – 22; 170 on June 23 – 25; 168, 165, and 162 on June 26 – 28; 160 on June 29 through July 4; 165 on July 5; 170 on July 6 – 8; 155, 157, 153, and 160 on July 9 – 12; 150 on July 13 – 14, and 155 on July 15 – 17.

Predicted planetary A index is 8, 14, 10, and 8 on June 15 – 18; 5, 5, and 8 on June 19 – 21; 5 on June 22 – 26; 12 on June 27 – 28; 5 on June 29 – 30; 12 and 8 on July 1 – 2; 5 on July 3 – 7; 12 on July 8 – 10; 5, 5, and 12 on July 11 – 13, and 10 on July 14 – 15.

These predictions look great for ARRL Field Day (June 24 – 25) because solar flux peaks at 170 on June 23 – 25, and the predicted planetary A index is a nice, quiet 5 on June 22 – 26. Next week, we will present an updated forecast just prior to Field Day weekend.

Follow the link below for an image of the ISS over a sunspot:

https://bit.ly/3NgsByW

This link shows the same, but in video format:

https://bit.ly/43Em3B1

Check out this link for a study of the sun’s coldest region:

https://bit.ly/3X6ErQu

More sunspots can be seen at the following link:

https://bit.ly/3Nt5Ys6

Sunspot numbers for June 8 – 14, 2023, were 149, 152, 116, 116, 116, 98, and 107, with a mean of 122. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 168.5, 164.3, 161.2, 153.8, 146.1, 146.3, and 143.5, with a mean of 154.8. Estimated planetary A indices were 5, 4, 5, 9, 6, 6, and 5, with a mean of 5.7. Middle latitude A index was 6, 6, 4, 10, 8, 8, and 5, with a mean of 6.7.

Solar activity was up this week, with the average daily sunspot number increasing from 133.7 to 139, and the average daily solar flux increasing from 155.3 to 166.8.

Average daily planetary A index stayed the same at 7.3, and average middle latitude A index went from 7.9 to 8.6.

Predicted solar flux doesn’t show any improvement, with peaks at 170 on June 8 and again on June 23 – 25.

The forecast shows 170 on June 8; 165 on June 9 – 11; 160, 155, and 155 on June 12 – 14, then 145 and 150 on June 15 – 16; 155 on June 17 – 20, then 160 and 165 on June 21 – 22; 170 on June 23 – 25, then 168, 165, and 162 on June 26 – 28; 160 on June 29 through July 4, then 155, 150, and 145 on July 5 – 7.

Predicted planetary A index is 12, 8, 5, 10, and 8 on June 8 – 12; 5 on June 13 – 17, then 22, 15, 12, and 10 on June 18 – 21; 5 on June 22 – 26, then 10, 12, 5, and 5 on June 27 – 30, then 8, 12, and 8 on July 1 – 3, and 5 on July 4 – 7.

In some previous bulletins, I observed 10-meter propagation with FT8 into Florida from my QTH in Seattle, and into Mexico at a similar distance.

Recently on 10 meters, propagation has been into VK/ZL and North America, and mostly into southern California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. There is some seasonal variation.

Sunspot numbers for June 1 through 7, 2023, were 143, 147, 112, 110, 151, 133, and 177, with a mean of 139. 10.7-centimeter flux was 163.9, 162.3, 164.6, 168.3, 169.2, 171.8, and 167.2, with a mean of 166.8. Estimated planetary A indices were 13, 5, 5, 11, 5, 7, and 5, with a mean of 7.3. Middle latitude A index was 14, 8, 5, 11, 6, 10, and 6, with a mean of 8.6.

Both the average daily sunspot numbers and solar flux increased this week. Average daily sunspot numbers rose from 118.6 to 133.4, while average solar flux went from 143.2 to 161.2.

Geomagnetic indicators were more active. Average daily planetary A index went from 9.6 to 17.1, while average middle latitude A index rose from 9.6 to 14.4.

Predicted solar flux is 160 on May 25 – 26; 165 on May 27; 160 on May 28; 155 on May 29 – 30; 160 and 150 on May 31 and June 1; 155 on June 2 – 4; 160, 165, 160, 155, and 150 on June 5 – 9; 145 on June 10 – 11; 150 on June 12; 155 on June 13 – 14; 160 on June 15; 165 on June 16 – 17; 160, 155, and 150 on June 18 – 20; 155 on June 21 – 22, then 160, 165, and 160 on June 23 – 25.

Predicted planetary A index is 12, 15, 8, 5, and 8 on May 25 – 29; 5 on May 30 through June 1; 16, 8, 10, and 8 on June 2 – 5; 5 on June 6 – 15, then 12, 10, 5, 18, 22, 15, and 10 on June 16 – 22.

Check out a video of the beautiful auroras explained here:

https://tinyurl.com/2zxdmpu6

Check out sunspot images at these links:

https://tinyurl.com/muaakxn9

https://www.popsci.com/science/sun-images-powerful-solar-telescope/ Sunspot numbers for May 18 through 24, 2023, were 121, 155, 138, 140, 97, 130, and 153, with a mean of 133.4. 10.7-centimeter flux was 150.6, 164.6, 169.6, 163.4, 161.5, 154.9, and 164.1, with a mean of 161.2. Estimated planetary A indices were 3, 9, 35, 28, 21, 12, and 12, with a mean of 17.1. Middle latitude A index was 8, 10, 26, 19, 17, 11, and 10, with a mean of 14.4.

Many thanks to all that have checked into the Sunday night nets over this past season. The net will be on vacation until October 1, 2023. Meanwhile keep checking the web page for any updates to the repeater and enjoy your summer and early fall. See you all next October!

This reporting week, May 11 – 17, the average daily sunspot number was marginally lower at 118.6 compared to 119.3 last week.

The average daily solar flux dropped from 167.8 to 143.2.

Geomagnetic indicators were quieter, with both planetary and middle latitude A index at 9.6. Last week the two numbers were 15.1 and 11.9.

10.7-centimeter solar flux is forecast to peak at 165 on June 8.

The predicted solar flux numbers are 140 and 138 on May 18 – 19; 135 on May 20 – 21; 130 on May 22 – 24, then 154, 140, and 145 on May 25 – 27; 155 on May 28 – 30; 160 on May 31 and June 1; 155 on June 2 – 3; 160 on June 4 – 7, then 165, 160, 150, 145, and 150 on June 8 – 12, then 155 on June 13 – 17.

Predicted planetary A index is 5 on May 18 – 19; 8 on May 20 – 21; 5 on May 22 – 23, then 12, 15, and 15 on May 24 – 26; 10, 10, and 8 on May 27 – 29; 5 on May 30 through June 1, then 16, 12, 16, and 12 on June 2 – 5; 8 on June 6 – 8, and 5 on June 9 – 18.

Check out NASA’s sunspot picture from May 17 at https://bit.ly/458DrPw.

Check out a video of the recent solar eruption at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm7M5pqjCgY.

Read about how the solar flare caused a radio blackout at https://bit.ly/434c5bw.

Read about a solar storm threat at https://bit.ly/3pSK4p2.

Sunspot numbers for May 11 through 17, 2023, were 152, 134, 120, 109, 103, 106, and 106, with a mean of 118.6. 10.7-centimeter flux was 163.4, 149.1, 143.8, 139.7, 134.5, 134.3, and 137.9, with a mean of 143.2. Estimated planetary A indices were 9, 19, 13, 8, 6, 8, and 4, with a mean of 9.6. Middle latitude A index was 10, 15, 12, 9, 6, 10, and 5, with a mean of 9.6.