Hello,

This is an excellent question!

Most scientists believe that the Sun's magnetic field is generated by a magnetic dynamo within the Sun. The basic idea behind a magnetic dynamo is that electrical currents can generate magnetic fields. Inside the Sun, electrical currents are generated by the flow of the hot, ionized gases, or plasma. These electrical currents in turn produce the Sun's magnetic field. This is the general idea behind a magnetic dynamo, but it is actually a very complicated process. For more information and pictures of what we think the Sun's magnetic field looks like, try this web site: http://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/dynamo.shtml

Scientists do not exactly "catch" magnetic fields, the way you would catch a ball. We measure them using a type of scientific instrument called a magnetometer. Two types of magnetometers are typically used on board spacecraft today. The first type is called a fluxgate magnetometer, which is used mainly to measure DC magnetic fields that do not change rapidly with time, like the large-scale structures of the Earth's magnetic field or the solar wind. The second type is called a search coil magnetometer, which is used to measure AC magnetic fields that change rapidly with time, such as the radio waves generated by the Earth's aurora borealis (the northern lights). Magnetometers are not just used to measure magnetic fields in space - they are also used in many other applications, such as metal detectors like the ones you might find at the airport.

Kris