The Magnetic Power Behind the Solar Atmosphere

Close-up images captured by the Solar Orbiter during its perihelion passage in October 2022 have revealed how small, fleeting magnetic fields on the Sun's surface contribute to the formation of the solar corona. These images show that loops of million-degree gas in the corona are associated with small patches of magnetic fields on the surface. The observations provide valuable insights into the role of small-scale magnetic fields in the development of the Sun's hot atmosphere. Solar Orbiter is set to make another close pass of the Sun in October 2023, allowing for further detailed observations of these processes.