Sunspots rise and fall in frequency over an 11-year cycle, signalling peaks and lows in solar activity. We expect the next climax in 2000-2001, when the largest and most sophisticated set of spacecraft and ground observatories ever will be waiting to find out more about... HOW THE SUN WORKS.
http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEhelp/safety.html
http://www.exploratorium.edu/observatory/index.html
The Exploratorium Observatory: Explore the history and science of sunspots
including interviews with solar physicists and archeoastronomers.
http://www.sunspotcycle.com/
Sunspots and the Solar Cycle: This is a great resource for current
information on sunspots. It includes the current sunspot number and make
sure you visit Sunspots in History to discover if you were born during a
solar maximum or minimum.