In the 17th century the sun plunged into a 70-year period of spotlessness known as the Maunder Minimum that still baffles scientists.
From the infowars.com
That may not sound like much, but in a year with record-low numbers of sunspots and long stretches of utter spotlessness, five is significant.
From the sciencedaily.com
If solar activity continues as low as it has been, 2008 could rack up a whopping 290 spotless days by the end of December, making it a century-level year in terms of spotlessness.