The three images spanning five years represent roughly the top half of the average 11-year long solar cycle. The first one, from April 1998, catches the Sun about mid-way between minimum activity and maximum activity. The second shows the Sun not long after its maximum level in 2001. Note that it has more and larger active regions (brighter areas). The last, from July 2003, shows the Sun about halfway back down the cycle again, appearing rather similar to the first image's moderate level of acti