New Sunspot Wows Observers

During the weekend new sunspot 963 emerged, and it is putting on a remarkable show for onlookers with solar telescopes.

Images featured on today's edition of http://spaceweather.com include must-see footage of a fire-fountain-like eruption plus snapshots of the International Space Station (ISS) transiting the active region.

The big double-sunspot is just beginning a two week journey across the face of the sun, promising many more photo-ops in the days ahead.

GREEN COMET: This week, comet Linear VZ13 is gliding through the constellation Draco not far from the North Star. The 8th magnitude comet is too dim for the naked eye, but it is an easy target for binoculars and backyard telescopes.

Observers say it has a beautiful green atmosphere and a stubby fan-shaped tail. Closest approach to Earth: July 14th at a distance of 86 million km.

Visit http://spaceweather.com for daily sky maps and photos