US aerospace agency NASA published visualization of changes in the position of the Sun’s magnetic fields since January 1997 to December 2013. 
Photos from NASA’s open source Purple lines show where the field is negative, green is positive. Additional gray lines indicate areas of local deviation. Magnetic poles of the sun change places approximately every 11-12 years and determine what called the solar cycle. Visualization shows how each a set of lines creeps to the opposite pole, making a polar coup. Then they overcome the return journey, completing the magnetic solar cycle. In the midst of every revolution, the Sun passes through periods of greatest activity during which the number of flares, spots and coronal emissions. Another coup According to NASA, it should happen soon. Perhaps even before the end of the year: in August, scientists said that they should wait no more than three to four months remain. Change magnetic the polarities of the sun should cause a ripple effect throughout the solar system, on Earth there may be problems with satellites and lines power transmission. However, disasters do not have to wait – according to specialists, the current peak of activity is the weakest for last 100 years. This year, flares in the sun – “coronal holes “with an increased speed of the solar wind – and plasma emissions, that cause magnetic storms on Earth, was less than in previous cycle highs.
NASA Sun Time
