Quiet Sun

I used to pay a lot more attention to the sun's activity. I need to set up my shortwave antenna again.

Very quiet, the sun, lately.

I am not the least surprised that scientists are "baffled" by our natural surroundings. Paying attention to our surroundings necessarily induces bafflement. If you are not confounded you are not looking hard enough.

Nor am I worried. We have only been looking closely for a brief spell and the damn thing is billions of years old.

Very interesting though...I think that the sun's complexion is looking rather lovely:

Sunspots could be seen by the Soho telescope in 2001
(l), but not this year (r)