A sunspot that suddenly appeared on July 3rd, 2009 was thought by some to support the crop circle prediction that there'd be a major solar storm today, July 7th. However, Spaceweather.com is reporting that Sunspot 1024 is decaying and solar flare activity is subsiding, so the prediction doesn't appear to be panning out, even though it's the most activity the quiet sun has had in the last two years.

Photo by Pete Lawrence.