... What do stars look like just before they explode? ... Hopefully, a star in one of the hundreds of high resolution galaxy images will explode in the coming years. ... What could cause a star to have such a large spot? Our Sun itself frequently has sunspots, relatively cool dark magnetic depressions that move across its surface. ... A Dark and Stormy Night . ... A Powerful Solar Flare . ... Yesterday, our Sun produced one of the most powerful solar flares in recorded history. ...