MIKE MOSS SAYS:      Jeff,     The movies Elizabeth was talking about were featured on a NASA news web page, and were close ups of the sun taken from a Japanese solar research satellite called Hinode. You can find the story, and two fascinating movie clips (one in black and white and the other in color) at this address:

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/21mar_chromosphere.htm?list37036

Here are some other good links for keeping a close eye on the sun, with lots of interesting images and time lapse animations:

http://www.spaceweather.com/

http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/gallery/bestofsoho.html

Just as an example from the SOHO site, this is a movie that really gives you a different perspective on how varied and active the sun's surface and immediate surroundings can be...

http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/gallery/Movies/trico/trico.mov