sunspot july 23 2009
© SOHO

The strange transition between solar cycles 23 and 24 continues. For the first time in several months, a cycle 23 sunspot is trying to form. This further illustrates the fits and starts that the sun has experienced during its deepest solar minimum in 100 years.

The strange transition between solar cycles 23 and 24 continues. For the first time in several months, a cycle 23 sunspot is trying to form. This further illustrates the fits and starts that the sun has experienced during its deepest solar minimum in 100 years.

Years of study and measurement have shown that during solar cycle transitions, which happen about every eleven years (this one is a year overdue), the sunspot of the emerging (new) cycle appears at latitudes above 20 degrees while the spots of the waning cycle pop up closer to the sun's equator.

Another way to distinguish new cycle from old cycle spots is by their magnetic polarity. The new and old sunspots will have different polarity of magnetic signatures.

Since the sun has defied forecasts for the past two years, we have an opportunity in the science community to witness new happenings on the sun that will further increase our understanding of its internal workings over time.

UPDATE: This small Cycle-23 region dissipated almost as quickly as it appeared 24 hours ago; so it never received an official sunspot number. The sun remains blank of sunspots for the 13th day in a row.