Kurt Thrust is unwell.

 

Image Credit: SOHO Solar Observatory. Lower image derived from the SOHO image and processed by Kurt on his smartphone.

" The trouble with having a very old astronomer, like Kurt Thrust as the Observatory Director, is that sooner or later they become a bit unwell and unable to do their job. Quite honestly, the JPO Team has been covering for him for some time and we all have been keeping him going with a steady stream of tea, sympathy and incontinence pads. Anyway and quite unexpectedly, Kurt was admitted to hospital for tests but we hope to see his return to the Observatory in the next few days. In the meantime, he has insisted that posts should continue and that the blog should not go 'Dark'. What an astronomical trooper!🔭🤣" Joel Cairo CEO of the JPO the UK's most easterly Astronomical Observatory

" The above images showing the  current view of the solar photosphere were obtained and derived from the SOHO satellite. I was rather annoyed, that I wasn't back at the Jodrell Plank Observatory and able to image sunspot group 4465 using the 127mm apo refractor, a Baader white light filter and our latest fast video camera. I'm down but not out! " Kurt Thrust still the current Director of the Jodrell Plank Observatory.