Solar magnetic field as recorded on January 1st, 2011. This image was taken was three years after solar minimum. The field is still relatively simple, with open field lines concentrated near the poles. Compare this photo with image JD9683. In this visualization, the sphere represents the solar photosphere, with neutral grey indicating a magnetic field of near zero intensity, black representing a magnetic field pointing into the sun (south or negative polarity) and white representing a magnetic field pointing outward from the sun (north or positive polarity). The white magnetic field lines are considered 'closed'. They move up, and then return to the solar surface. The green and violet lines represent field lines that are considered 'open'. Green represents positive magnetic polarity, and violet represents negative polarity. These field lines connect with more distant magnetic fields in space.