Our star is getting ready to reverse magnetic fields in the next few months to mark the halfway point in the current solar maximum. Not to worry, this is an event that happens as part of the 11-year solar cycle http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/05aug_fieldflip/
The Sun is in Solar Cycle 24 and the magnetic field reversal will mark the half-way point of the current Solar Maximum. Up to this point the Solar Max has been a weak one compared to others - the weakest of the Space Age and in the past 100 years.
This solar cycle has astronomers a bit stumped as to what is going on and what will happen in Solar Cycle 25. Read More About It: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/community/skyblog/newsblog/The-Weakest-Solar-Cycle-in-100-Years-216752671.html
The current cycle shows that even though we have the most sophisticated solar observing instruments and spacecraft missions in history, we have observed such a small span of time. Astronomers are going back through historical observations made the old fashioned way - Earth-bound telescopes observing the Sun - for clues as to previous weak Solar Cycles.
The bottom line is that we do not know all there is to know about the Sun which is why it is essential to study our star 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.
Sky Guy in VA
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