The sun is in the pits of a century-class solar minimum, and sunspots have been puzzlingly scarce for more than two years. Now, for the first time, solar physicists might understand why.
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/17jun_jetstream.htm
What a difference 48 hours can make. Only two days ago the sun was blank and calm, displaying the sort of unrelenting quiet we've come to expect from the deepest solar minimum in a century. Then, with startling rapidity, sunspot 1024 burst onto the scene:
http://spaceweather.com/images2009/06jul09/1024_anim.gif?PHPSESSID=luk5o4otnse5ra18d
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More info from Space Weather: http://spaceweather.com/
There was a little black spot on the sun today.... 8)
And tomorrow we get nailed by a CME. Stay indoors and wear sunscreen. 8)