The magnetic classification of sunspots based on the Zürich/McIntosh system: Classification Values (C.V.) derived by Malde is: “A sunspot count derived using weighting of Zürich (Modified) McIntosh classifications“. The C.V. count intends to measure the variety of sunspot region classification with respect to their ability of survival, typical life style, complexity, structure, polarity, size and elongation on the solar disk.
The sunspots on the earth-facing side of the Sun are counted every day by the space weather specialists and they give each sunspot region a magnetic classification and a spot classification. On our website you’ll find an overview of all the sunspot groups together with their classification. Below you get to know what these mean.
CV-nbr. | ZMcI-type | Magnetic type | Length | Penumbra type | Distribution |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Axx | Unipolar | - | No penumbra | Single |
2 | Bxo | Bipolar | - | No penumbra | Open |
3 | Bxi | Bipolar | - | No penumbra | Intermediate |
4 | Hrx | Unipolar | - | Rudimentary | Single |
5 | Cro | Bipolar one side | - | Rudimentary | Open |
6 | Cri | Bipolar one side | - | Rudimentary | Intermediate |
7 | Hax | Unipolar | - | Asymmetric, <2,5° | Single |
8 | Cao | Bipolar one side | - | Asymmetric, <2,5° | Open |
9 | Cai | Bipolar one side | - | Asymmetric, <2,5° | Intermediate |
10 | Hsx | Unipolar | - | Symmetric, <2,5° | Single |
11 | Cso | Bipolar one side | - | Symmetric, <2,5° | Open |
12 | Csi | Bipolar one side | - | Symmetric, <2,5° | Intermediate |
13 | Dro | Bipolar | <10° | Rudimentary | Open |
14 | Ero | Bipolar | >10° <15° | Rudimentary | Open |
15 | Fro | Bipolar | >15° | Rudimentary | Open |
16 | Dri | Bipolar | <10° | Rudimentary | Intermediate |
17 | Eri | Bipolar | >10° <15° | Rudimentary | Intermediate |
18 | Fri | Bipolar | >15° | Rudimentary | Intermediate |
19 | Dao | Bipolar | <10° | Asymmetric, <2,5° | Open |
20 | Eao | Bipolar | >10° <15° | Asymmetric, <2,5° | Open |
21 | Fao | Bipolar | >15° | Asymmetric, <2,5° | Open |
22 | Dai | Bipolar | <10° | Asymmetric, <2,5° | Intermediate |
23 | Eai | Bipolar | >10° <15° | Asymmetric, <2,5° | Intermediate |
24 | Fai | Bipolar | >15° | Asymmetric, <2,5° | Intermediate |
25 | Dso | Bipolar | <10° | Symmetric, <2,5° | Open |
26 | Eso | Bipolar | >10° <15° | Symmetric, <2,5° | Open |
27 | Fso | Bipolar | >15° | Symmetric, <2,5° | Open |
28 | Dsi | Bipolar | <10° | Symmetric, <2,5° | Intermediate |
29 | Esi | Bipolar | >10° <15° | Symmetric, <2,5° | Intermediate |
30 | Fsi | Bipolar | >15° | Symmetric, <2,5° | Intermediate |
31 | Dac | Bipolar | <10° | Asymmetric, <2,5° | Compact |
32 | Eac | Bipolar | >10° <15° | Asymmetric, <2,5° | Compact |
33 | Fac | Bipolar | >15° | Asymmetric, <2,5° | Compact |
34 | Dsc | Bipolar | <10° | Symmetric, <2,5° | Compact |
35 | Esc | Bipolar | >10° <15° | Symmetric, <2,5° | Compact |
36 | Fsc | Bipolar | >15° | Symmetric, <2,5° | Compact |
37 | Hkx | Unipolar | - | Asymmetric, >2,5° | Single |
38 | Cko | Bipolar one side | - | Asymmetric, >2,5° | Open |
39 | Cki | Bipolar one side | - | Asymmetric, >2,5° | Intermediate |
40 | Hhx | Unipolar | - | Symmetric, >2,5° | Single |
41 | Cho | Bipolar one side | - | Symmetric, >2,5° | Open |
42 | Chi | Bipolar one side | - | Symmetric, >2,5° | Intermediate |
43 | Dko | Bipolar | <10° | Asymmetric, >2,5° | Open |
44 | Eko | Bipolar | >10° <15° | Asymmetric, >2,5° | Open |
45 | Fko | Bipolar | >15° | Asymmetric, >2,5° | Open |
46 | Dki | Bipolar | <10° | Asymmetric, >2,5° | Intermediate |
47 | Eki | Bipolar | >10° <15° | Asymmetric, >2,5° | Intermediate |
48 | Fki | Bipolar | >15° | Asymmetric, >2,5° | Intermediate |
49 | Dho | Bipolar | <10° | Symmetric, >2,5° | Open |
50 | Eho | Bipolar | >10° <15° | Symmetric, >2,5° | Open |
51 | Fho | Bipolar | >15° | Symmetric, >2,5° | Open |
52 | Dhi | Bipolar | <10° | Symmetric, >2,5° | Intermediate |
53 | Ehi | Bipolar | >10° <15° | Symmetric, >2,5° | Intermediate |
54 | Fhi | Bipolar | >15° | Symmetric, >2,5° | Intermediate |
55 | Dkc | Bipolar | <10° | Asymmetric, >2,5° | Compact |
56 | Ekc | Bipolar | >10° <15° | Asymmetric, >2,5° | Compact |
57 | Fkc | Bipolar | >15° | Asymmetric, >2,5° | Compact |
58 | Dhc | Bipolar | <10° | Symmetric, >2,5° | Compact |
59 | Ehc | Bipolar | >10° <15° | Symmetric, >2,5° | Compact |
60 | Fhc | Bipolar | >15° | Symmetric, >2,5° | Compact |
Every Cv group/regions Cv-count are summarized per day and averaged per month.
A lot of people come to SpaceWeatherLive to follow the Solar activity or if there is a chance to see the aurora, but with more traffic comes higher costs to keep the servers online. If you like SpaceWeatherLive and want to support the project you can choose a subscription for an ad-free site or consider a donation. With your help we can keep SpaceWeatherLive online!
Last X-flare | 2025/06/17 | X1.27 |
Last M-flare | 2025/06/18 | M1.5 |
Last geomagnetic storm | 2025/06/14 | Kp5+ (G1) |
Spotless days | |
---|---|
Last spotless day | 2022/06/08 |
Monthly mean Sunspot Number | |
---|---|
May 2025 | 79.2 -61.4 |
June 2025 | 107.4 +28.2 |
Last 30 days | 106.3 +14.5 |