Astronomy
How Does the Sun's Magnetic Field Cycle Every 11 Years?
Quick fact
The Sun's magnetic field doesn't just change strength—it completely reverses polarity. After two consecutive 11-year cycles, the field returns to its original orientation, making the full magnetic cycle actually 22 years long.
Why this is interesting
Every 11 years, the Sun's north and south magnetic poles swap places. What causes our star to flip its magnetic personality so regularly?