No sunspots at all

[iceman (Mike)]

On October 11, solar astronomers saw something they haven't seen on the Sun in six years... nothing. Not a single sunspot. Within a couple of days, of course, a sunspot popped up, and they're on the Sun right now. This is a clear indication to astronomers that the Sun is on its way to the low point of its 11-year cycle of activity, called the "solar minimum". During the solar minimum, the Sun can be without spots for days or even weeks, and solar flares subside. Astronauts will breath a sigh of relief; it's a safer time to be out in space.

[Nick]

yeah definetly a safer time to be out in space. Solar flares are very very dangerous, the posses the power of 100-megaton hydrogen bombs(dont let the terrorists get their hands on that). Wasnt their reports of solar flares interrupting equipment on earth? Ive heard the several air-liners had problems when a reported solar flare hit earth in that spot.

[iceman (Mike)]

yeh the solar flares can knock out satellites and other electrical equipment on earth!

And we've only just gone past the solar minimum! In another 4 or 5 years there'll be auroras a plenty.. Too bad that we can't see any from this latitude (where I am, at least!).

[Saturn%5 (Graeme)]

I can say that the sun is very quite, My other hobbie is ham radio and we like it when the sun is very active, It must be getting close to the bottom of this cycle and then when it starts to get more active not only is ham radio going to be more fun but there will be all those great sun spots to look at