All articles tagged with #solar observation
On January 3, 2026, Earth will reach its closest point to the Sun, called perihelion, making the Sun appear slightly larger in the sky and in photographs, with the smallest distance of about 147.1 million km. Astronomers warn about the risks of observing the Sun without proper filters, despite January not being ideal for solar viewing.
NASA's Parker Solar Probe captured the first-ever visual footage of the Sun's magnetic switchbacks, revealing the dynamic and previously invisible magnetic behavior of the Sun's outer atmosphere, marking a significant breakthrough in solar physics and space science.
The ESA/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) has celebrated 30 years of continuous solar observation, overcoming challenges and revolutionizing solar science, space weather monitoring, and comet discovery, while inspiring future missions and international collaboration.
Scientists captured the most detailed images of a solar flare ever using the Inouye Solar Telescope, revealing plasma loops as small as 13 miles across, which could enhance understanding of solar flare mechanics and magnetic reconnection.
Scientists have achieved the sharpest-ever images of the sun's corona using advanced adaptive optics, revealing new features like delicate coronal rain, a rapidly forming plasma 'plasmoid', and dynamic solar prominences, which could help solve longstanding mysteries about solar heating and space weather phenomena.
The European Space Agency (ESA) is set to launch the Proba-3 mission from India using an ISRO PSLV-XL rocket. This mission involves two spacecraft designed to study the Sun's corona by creating artificial solar eclipses, allowing for extended observation periods. The mission, which will demonstrate precision formation flying, is part of ESA's efforts to validate new space technologies. Proba-3's success could pave the way for future missions, including exoplanet discovery and advanced astronomical interferometry.
The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), a joint mission by ESA and NASA, is nearing the end of its operational life as it approaches its 30th anniversary. Originally launched in 1995 for a two-year mission to study the Sun, SOHO has exceeded expectations, continuing to provide valuable solar data and even discovering comets. Despite overcoming numerous technical challenges, the mission's future is uncertain due to funding constraints, with NOAA's upcoming SWFO-L1 mission set to replace its role in 2025. SOHO's mission is expected to transition to a post-operations phase by 2026.
India's Aditya-L1 solar observation mission has successfully entered the Sun's orbit after a four-month journey, marking a significant achievement for the country's space exploration efforts. The mission aims to study the Sun's outermost layers and phenomena such as coronal mass ejections, which can impact satellite operations on Earth. This milestone adds to India's growing space program, which includes previous missions to the Moon and Mars, as well as upcoming plans for lunar and Venus missions.