NASA Scientists studying the relationship between the Sun’s magnetic activity and the peak number of sunspots, have discovered a six-year relationship between the two phenomena. If the trend continues as it has since 1868, we should experience a count of about 160 sunspots during the next solar cycle peak, due in 2011. Previous correlations between climate and sunspot count may also indicate a warmer climate during this cycle.
Right: An erupting solar prominence photographed by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO).
On a very cold (for us) and clear December morning, the moon showing a thin crescent rises above the eastern horizon. 
This may be more evidence that the Sun is entering one of it’s most active 
Earth-orbiting satellites detected a major X9-class solar flare this morning at 1035 UT (5:35 a.m. EST). The source: big, new sunspot 929, which is emerging over the Sun’s eastern limb. GOES-13 captured this X-ray image of the blast:
Late Wednesday night, as Damsel and I were walking the dogs, the skies were exceptionally clear for the urban Los Angeles area. We were looking towards the “