Unveiling the Hidden Depths of the Sun: Solar Orbiter's Miniflare Revelations

Solar Orbiter, a joint mission by the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA, has captured images of tiny energy jets called picojets or picoflares on the sun's surface. These short-lived jets, lasting only 20 to 100 seconds, carry a significant amount of energy and could contribute to the mystery of why the sun's corona is much hotter than its visible surface. The spacecraft's discoveries also include flickering flares called campfires. By teaming up with NASA's Parker Solar Probe, Solar Orbiter aims to gather more data to better understand these phenomena and the origin of the solar wind.