The sun's magnetic north and south poles were in their respective northern and southern hemisphere several months ago.

CNN: Sun flips magnetic field

Furthermore, scientists are keen to find out if the Earth's magnetic poles are about to "flip" - with magnetic North becoming South, and vice versa.

BBC: Planet Earth

In 1998, Mr Hempleman-Adams became the first person to complete the Adventurers' Grand Slam after climbing the highest peaks in seven continents and reaching the geographic and magnetic North and South Poles.

BBC: World explorer Hempleman-Adams: 'I've been lucky'

They moved often, living near Byron Bay, a beachfront community in New South Wales, and on Magnetic Island, a tiny pile of rock that Captain Cook believed had magnetic properties that distorted his compass readings.

NEWYORKER: No Secrets

The magnetic field forces the particles toward the north and south poles.

CNN: 'Dancing lights' draw thousands to frozen north

Tackling the real North Pole is estimated to take at least four times as long as the magnetic pole, which, at present, is considerably further south.

BBC: Sir Ranulph Fiennes: Up the Pole