Solar activity picking up

For those who have been paying attention to the solar cycle, you've probably noticed that the Sun was very quiet the last couple of years, as we went through an extended solar minimum. Now, however, the Sun is becoming more active.

Up in the Mead Observatory's Solar Telescope, we're quite pleased to have something actually going on to observe. To the left, you'll see a fairly spectacular solar prominence from last week; and to the right, an image of Sunspot 1057, taken yesterday.