"Sunspot 904 harbors energy for M-class eruptions and poses a gathering threat for X-flares."

I try to imagine just how big those spots are and how much energy they give off but my puny mind just can't deal with it.

what are sunspots? i assume that they are parts of the sun that are burning out? does that make sense or is it the opposite based on the last comment?

They are enormous magnetic disturbances on the Sun that actually cool the area. Forget my previous comment as I must have taken some bad crack this morning and was thinking solar flare. : /

We need an embarrased icon up in here.

No need for embarassment Rich, your comment was not wrong. It's those magnetic disturbances that cause powerful solar flares with a really huge energy release.

Good info on the sun

"
The Sun is the most prominent feature in our solar system. It is the
largest object and contains approximately 98% of the total solar system
mass. One hundred and nine Earths would be required to fit across
the Sun's disk, and its interior could hold over 1.3 million Earths.
The Sun's outer visible layer is called the photosphere and has a
temperature of 6,000°C (11,000°F).
This layer has a mottled appearance due to the turbulent eruptions
of energy at the surface."

There's also more on Sun Spots at the site.