From mcintosh@qadas.com Fri Mar 6 02:51:43 1998 March 5, 1998 1600 UT SOLAR STATUS REPORT HELIOSYNOPTICS, BOULDER, COLORADO NEW REGION NEAR N50 AT EAST LIMB There are at least two active regions about to come onto the visible solar disk at the east limb of the sun. Most interesting is one at the unusual latitude of N50, showing a well-developed system of coronal loops that suggests a mature, but magnetically simple, region. The corona of this region appears equivalent to the corona now apparent above the large spot group at S23 W72 (Region 8171). The new region has formed near the anticipated location mentioned in the report for March 2, which warned observers to watch for a region appearing at east limb in 5 days, at a location 180 degrees in longitude from Region 8171. When the sun creates symmetry in its distribution of activity, it most often takes the form of 180 degree separations, but also tends to place activity in opposite hemispheres in latitude. The occurrence of regions at the exceptional latitude of 50 degrees is rare, but most common at the beginning of a solar cycle; but, for that region to be large is most unusual. A hallmark of the strongest known sunspot cycle, Cycle 19 with peak in 1957-58, was the appearance of large Class-E spot groups at high latitudes. The region about to rotate into view may add a little credibility to some predictions that the present cycle will be comparable to the record Cycle 19. Region 8171 increased 50% in area from yesterday, and it will begin its transit of the west limb tomorrow. Growth was primarily in the leader penumbral mass, without increasing the region=92s complexity. Xray flare activity should continue no stronger than Class C events unless additional flux emerges displaced from the primary polarity boundary through this region. This region accounts for most of the present level of 10.7 cm radio flux. The flux will drop sharply as this region rotates out of view, unless there is unexpected growth of new regions. A weak region is coming into view at S23 E90. The remaining regions on the solar disk are small and changing slowly. Patrick S. McIntosh From mcintosh@qadas.com Sat Mar 7 03:25:21 1998 March 6, 1998 1800 UT SOLAR STATUS REPORT for observers and forecasters HELIOSYNOPTICS, BOULDER, COLORADO A small symmetric leader spot (Hsx, Area of 50) has come into view at N46 E88 marking the disk appearance of a new active region that has become impressive in coronal emissions. The bright loops here are larger and brighter than those now showing above the large spot group transiting the SW solar limb. A smaller bright region is showing plage on the disk at S42 E88. Observing conditions are too poor to detect small spots, but one is suspected with this region. A small, dark spot (Axx, Area <10) has appeared near S15 E55. Regions 8171 (S23 W82) and 8172 (N22 W58) are little changed, but limb proximity and poor seeing make assessment difficult. Additional spots were suspected in the interior of 8171. Patrick McIntosh