I've never seen the sun's x-ray output this weak since I started following this thread. Just barely floating above the "A" range is unacceptable for a solar maximum....somebody wake old Sol.

[link to www.swpc.noaa.gov]

Hopefully we'll see a few flares this week as it looks like 3 active regions may be coming over soon.

STEREO B EUVI movie:

[link to stereo.gsfc.nasa.gov]

I stumbled on this heady article concerning solar x-rays and Iron ions-

"Highly charged ions – that is, atoms which have been stripped off most of their electrons – play an important role in astrophysics. Within the large accumulations of visible (luminous) matter in the universe, the highly charged state is the natural one. This is the case in stellar atmospheres as well as in the interior of stars, where temperatures of several million degrees Celsius rule. Highly charged ions also abound around exotic objects such as neutron stars or black holes. Before matter plunges into their cores, it delivers gravitational energy, heating up and emitting extremely intense X-rays, which can be observed.

X-rays also determine the energy transport inside the Sun. At its core temperature of 15 million degrees, a natural fusion power plant runs with a total capacity of about 4·1026 watts. The power density of 200 watts per cubic meter is, however, modest, and corresponds to about that of a compost heap. In contrast to such, the Sun is very large. If the solar core would freely radiate X-rays at those temperatures, a power exceeding the fusion energy yield by 11 orders of magnitude would be lost. The sun works because the radiation transport to the outside is inhibited, thus maintaining the high core temperature. Convection, the heat transport by turbulent upstream flows of hot matter, only takes place further outward, starting at about 70% of the solar radius. This good insulation reduces hydrogen consumption and extends the duration of fusion in our central star to the billions of years that are needed for the formation of a stable planetary system, and ultimately for the development of life."

[link to www.redorbit.com]