[CQ-Contest] solar cycle 24

[Steve London]

Art RX9TX wrote:
>  Hello ,
> 
> Looks  like solar cycle 24 has finally started as SFI has been growing
> since October 24, see
>  
> http://www.dxlc.com/solar/
> 

Art,

While I wish it was true that this was the beginning of cycle 24, I'm afraid it 
is not. The latest sunspot group (978), as well as the two other sunspot groups 
that briefly appeared this week, are "old sunspot cycle" sunspots. You can tell 
this because of their low solar latitude. "New sunspot cycle" sunspots will 
appear at solar latitudes greater than 20 North and 20 South. See 
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/sun/activity/butterfly.html for more 
information.

Nevertheless, these old sunspot cycle sunspots should be good for the 10 meter 
contest this weekend.

73,
Steve, N2IC