We're Finally Seeing the Sun's Mixed Up Magnetism at its Poles

Since 2025, Solar Orbiter is the first Sun-watching spacecraft to ever get a clear look at the Sun's poles. It discovered that at the south pole, the Sun’s magnetic field is currently a mess. This image shows a magnetic field map from Solar Orbiter's Polarimetric and Helioseismic Imager (PHI) instrument, centred on the Sun's south pole. Blue indicates positive magnetic field, pointing towards the spacecraft, and red indicates negative magnetic field. There are clear blue and red patches vi...

Jun 23, 2025 - 23:10

We're Finally Seeing the Sun's Mixed Up Magnetism at its Poles

A magnetic map of the Sun's south pole that shows the opposite magnetic polarities in red and blue. Credit: ESA & NASA/Solar Orbiter/PHI Team, J. Hirzberger (MPS)

Since 2025, Solar Orbiter is the first Sun-watching spacecraft to ever get a clear look at the Sun's poles. It discovered that at the south pole, the Sun’s magnetic field is currently a mess. This image shows a magnetic field map from Solar Orbiter's Polarimetric and Helioseismic Imager (PHI) instrument, centred on the Sun's south pole. Blue indicates positive magnetic field, pointing towards the spacecraft, and red indicates negative magnetic field. There are clear blue and red patches vi...