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Here we are, on the last day of the year, with finally some very positive indicators for Solar Cycle 24. Each day since December 9 (except for Christmas Day), sunspots have been visible. The average daily sunspot numbers for the week December 24-30 were 12.9, an 18.5 point drop from the previous week, which was a 10.3 point rise from the previous week, December 10-16. Sunspot numbers for December 24-30 were 11, 0, 13, 17, 17, 17 and 15 with a mean of 12.9. The 10.7 cm flux was 77.1, 76, 75.9, 76.8, 75.8, 75.1 and 76.9, with a mean of 76.2. The estimated planetary A indices were 2, 2, 3, 2, 1, 0 and 0, with a mean of 1.4. The estimated mid-latitude A indices were 1, 3, 2, 1, 1, 0 and 0, with a mean of 1.1.

Registration remains open through Sunday, January 24, 2010, for these online course sessions beginning on Friday, February 5, 2010: Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 1; Antenna Modeling; Radio Frequency Interference; Antenna Design and Construction; Ham Radio (Technician) License Course; Propagation; Analog Electronics, and Digital Electronics.

The mystery of space and weightlessness is one that inspires the imagination. The dream of conquering what lies beyond our atmosphere spans generations. It is that mystique and dream that has driven many dedicated Amateur Radio operators and science enthusiasts to find a little fun in the unknown.