... Unusual appendages around bright stars are commonplace, but never seem to be mentioned. ... Forty years ago, on April 12, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Alexseyevich Gagarin became the first human in space. ... Large Sunspot Group AR 9393 . ... The largest sunspot group of the past ten years crossed the surface of the Sun late last month and early this month. ... Next stop: Mars. ... This week's stereo offering features the now famous Active Region 9393, the largest sunspot group in the last 10 years. ...