This Franklin Fact is provided by astronomer Derrick Pitts.

The Sun has recently reached its highest level of activity in the last 11 years, indicated in one respect by exceptionally large sunspots. Sunspots are cool regions on the sun's surface. They are associated with flares that can disrupt cellular phone usage, and also create the Northern Lights.

Through special filters, sunspots can look as small as specks of dirt. That translates to twice the size of earth. A recent group of sunspots was estimated to be about 20 times the size of earth, making them even more visible. Because the sun's so bright, it's impossible to observe it directly without eye protection. But if you still have the eclipse viewer you used to see the partial eclipse of the sun last Christmas, you can safely use that. Just place the card over your eyes and look up toward the sun. Those dark specks are sunspots.

You can also visit the observatory at The Franklin Institute to see the sun safely through a specially filtered telescope, any day the sky is clear.