With the range of filters and telescopes available for solar observing these days, we have never had a better opportunity to safely observe the Sun from the comfort of our backyards. Amateur astronomers can now do that in two ways: Observe a wide swath of wavelengths that make up visible light, or restrict the view to a single wavelength, Hydrogen-alpha.
Astronomy magazine subscribers can read the full column for free. Just make sure you're registered with the website.