The following excerpt is from the Solar Bulletin , Vol.52, No.10 (October 1996):

During September and October {1996}, we experienced a sequence of thirty-seven consecutive days during which there were no spots observed on the Sun. This series is longer than any during recent solar minima -- consistent with the current minimum being "deeper" than those during recent solar cycles.

But how does this series compare with similar sequences from the historical record of sunspot observations? The following table makes this comparison for observations of similar and longer duration since 1900.

Year
 of
Sequence

1913

1901

1902

1902

1912

1901-2

1913

1924

1996

1933

1944

Consecutive
Spotless
Days

92

69

49

45

43

40

39

39

37

36

36

... -- Richard Thompson --
IPS Radio and Space Services
New South Wales, Australia