A 'new-cycle' sunspot emerges

A 'new-cycle' sunspot belonging to Solar Cycle 24 is emerging near the sun's northeastern limb.

This is the third time in as many weeks that a new-cycle sunspot has interrupted the year's remarkable run of blank suns.

The accelerating pace of new-cycle sunspot production is an encouraging sign that, while solar activity remains very low, the sunspot cycle is unfolding more or less normally. We are not stuck in a permanent solar minimum.

Readers with solar telescopes should train them on the sun this weekend to observe sunspot genesis in action.

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