News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

They said the world was going to end - but this cheeky 'wink' shows what the Sun thought of the predicted Armageddon.

Just seconds after Planet Earth escaped last Friday's 'Mayan apocalypse', NASA scientists captured this stunning image.

And it appears to show our star celebrating the passing of the threatened fiery finale with a relieved 'wink'. In fact, the markings are just sunspots.

The human race successfully navigated the 11.11am deadline, as predicted by some Mayan calendar 'experts'.

The threat was taken seriously across the globe, from Stonehenge, Wilts, to a beach at Lima, Peru, where shamans performed rites to prevent the final disaster.