The Sun, despite being well into the quiet period of the 11 year solar cycle has stunned astronomers this month with not one, but two massive suns spots are present on the same hemisphere of the sun. These two massive sunspots are both capable of X-class CMEs.

[addendum:]

Thee leftmost sunspot indeed did spawn not one, but two X-class solar flares! An X18 and an X10! These caused wonderful aurora for almost the entire US, and Seattle was treated to a spectacular show on the 29th of October. Please see my pictures at the previous link for some snapshots I made during a brief break in the clouds.

Taken with a Coolpix 885 digital camera, coupled to an ST80 refractor with a Wiliam Optics DCL28 adapter.