>> Is there some "official starting gun" for one to begin >> tracking the cycle? Presumably someone has to observe/measure that the magnetic polarity of the spots is reversed from whichever way it was during the previous cycle. That's not something I keep up with. Perhaps one of the solar observers on the list could chime in here about where you find out such things and what the current status is. \Brian -- See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please send personal replies to the author, not the list.