AR 3538

[LunarLights58]

This one is growing fast and has a delta. 

I think that makes it beta-gamma-delta

[Adrian Kobyłecki]

I also think it's β-γ-δ. I wonder what it will look like in a few days. Let's hope it releases some plasma towards Earth because it is in a good position

[Fishaxolotl]

Seems a bit small though no?

[Sam Warfel]

Interesting, it looks to have a ring shape.  Always worth a watch

[SpaceWeather5464]

15 minutes ago, Fishaxolotl said:

Seems a bit small though no?

Yeah, It needs to grow.

[SpaceWeather5464]

It's producing C class flares every 1-2 hours now, Active sunspot.

[chronical]

Now classified as a gamma (γ), haven't seen one since I started chasing northern lights

Edited January 6 by chronical

[hamateur 1953]

I noticed the omission of the typical beta classification. I assume that it is a beta/gamma. At least it looks like one to me….
 

[chronical]

23 minutes ago, hamateur 1953 said:

I noticed the omission of the typical beta classification. I assume that it is a beta/gamma. At least it looks like one to me….

Seems like they exist though. The description of a Gamma region follows: 

Complex region in which negative and positive polarities are irregularly distributed such that they cannot be classified as bipolar regions.

I suppose it's because of the two little positive sunspots on the left that beta was removed from the classification

Edited January 7 by chronical

[Philalethes]

32 minutes ago, hamateur 1953 said:

I noticed the omission of the typical beta classification. I assume that it is a beta/gamma. At least it looks like one to me….

10 minutes ago, chronical said:

Seems like they exist though.

Both gamma and delta necessarily presuppose beta, can't have either unless both polarities are present in the AR. Beta itself doesn't imply either though, since you can of course have beta regions that are neither gamma nor delta.

Edited January 7 by Philalethes
typo

[MinYoongi]

28 minutes ago, Philalethes said:

Both gamma and delta necessarily presuppose beta, can't have either unless both polarities are present in the AR. Beta itself doesn't imply either though, since you can of course have beta regions that are neither gamma nor delta.

never seen a gamma though. does it change anything in regards to flareability? 

[Philalethes]

5 minutes ago, MinYoongi said:

never seen a gamma though. does it change anything in regards to flareability? 

Not sure what you mean, I'm pretty sure you've seen a gamma lots of times. I'm just pointing out that gamma implicitly means "beta-gamma", since any region that is gamma must necessarily also be beta. Gamma and delta both inherently refer to opposite polarities, so unless you have opposite polarities you can't have either. In other words, there's no such thing as "alpha-gamma" or "alpha-delta", which should be fairly obvious.

[MinYoongi]

1 minute ago, Philalethes said:

Not sure what you mean, I'm pretty sure you've seen a gamma lots of times. I'm just pointing out that gamma implicitly means "beta-gamma", since any region that is gamma must necessarily also be beta. Gamma and delta both inherently refer to opposite polarities, so unless you have opposite polarities you can't have either. In other words, there's no such thing as "alpha-gamma" or "alpha-delta", which should be fairly obvious.

That was what I misunderstood and wondered about. I thought its a Gamma without Beta and asked myself how and if thats possible. Thanks for explaining.

[chronical]

Thank you @Philalethes, I love to be wrong sometimes, makes me learn things quicker than being unsure and not post anything

[Calder]

7 hours ago, Philalethes said:

Both gamma and delta necessarily presuppose beta, can't have either unless both polarities are present in the AR

6 hours ago, Philalethes said:

I'm just pointing out that gamma implicitly means "beta-gamma", since any region that is gamma must necessarily also be beta. Gamma and delta both inherently refer to opposite polarities, so unless you have opposite polarities you can't have either.

I don’t think this is correct to say. I recall @Vancanneyt Sander answering a question about this one time. For example, if an Alpha sunspot develops a delta in its penumbra, it would then be classified as a Delta sunspot. It does not become Beta-Delta just because they are opposite polarities. It would need to have another dominant sunspot of opposite polarity leading or trailing to be considered Beta-Delta. Gamma regions are not inherently Beta-Gamma because they are too irregularly distributed to be considered a bipolar region (they don’t have a clear leader and follower).

[Vancanneyt Sander]

To get gamma, you need at least two polarities. The gamma region is a region where positive and negative spots are so irregular distributed that you can't classify it as a beta region. So there Is a lack of a simple division between the two polarities. Which is the case here. It's explained in our help article 😉 'the magnetic classification of sunspots'

[Philalethes]

1 hour ago, Calder said:

I don’t think this is correct to say. I recall @Vancanneyt Sander answering a question about this one time. For example, if an Alpha sunspot develops a delta in its penumbra, it would then be classified as a Delta sunspot. It does not become Beta-Delta just because they are opposite polarities. It would need to have another dominant sunspot of opposite polarity leading or trailing to be considered Beta-Delta. Gamma regions are not inherently Beta-Gamma because they are too irregularly distributed to be considered a bipolar region (they don’t have a clear leader and follower).

59 minutes ago, Vancanneyt Sander said:

To get gamma, you need at least two polarities. The gamma region is a region where positive and negative spots are so irregular distributed that you can't classify it as a beta region. So there Is a lack of a simple division between the two polarities. Which is the case here. It's explained in our help article 😉 'the magnetic classification of sunspots'

I see, my bad; that would indeed invalidate my reasoning above. I forgot the "simple division between polarities" part of the beta definition. It makes sense for an AR to potentially be exclusively gamma then, if the spots are all very irregularly distributed without any clear division.

8 hours ago, MinYoongi said:

That was what I misunderstood and wondered about. I thought its a Gamma without Beta and asked myself how and if thats possible. Thanks for explaining.

5 hours ago, chronical said:

Thank you @Philalethes, I love to be wrong sometimes, makes me learn things quicker than being unsure and not post anything

See the above replies, in this case it's me missing the complete definition of a beta; gamma does in fact not inherently imply beta after all, and in light of that it makes sense that this region would be classified as gamma only, since the spots are scattered around without a very clear division.

[tniickck]

do i see a ring structure? 

[Philalethes]

On 1/9/2024 at 5:54 PM, tniickck said:

do i see a ring structure? 

Could be that you did, at least it seems like this is what's flaring by and past the limb of disappointment right now.

[MinYoongi]

8 hours ago, Philalethes said:

Could be that you did, at least it seems like this is what's flaring by and past the limb of disappointment right now.

lmao!! The limb of dissapointment, i cant even.

 

[hamateur 1953]

Don’t we call the east limb “ The Limb of Hope”?   Weren’t you it’s originator @MinYoongi ? 

38 minutes ago, MinYoongi said:

lmao!! The limb of dissapointment, i cant even.

 

 

[Fishaxolotl]

The centre disc is quickly becoming the disc of disappointment at this stage given how many sunspots appear to die around that point 

[Sam Warfel]

Dismal Disappointing Disk of Decay and Death and Doom.
Dreadful.

[Philalethes]

10 minutes ago, Sam Warfel said:

Dismal Disappointing Disk of Decay and Death and Doom.
Dreadful.

Left Limb of Lachrymose Lamentation and Lugubrious Letdowns.

[Sam Warfel]

3 minutes ago, Philalethes said:

Left Limb of Lachrymose Lamentation and Lugubrious Letdowns.

Did you look those up?