Solar Explorer Records Stunning Images of Minute Streams near Solar South Pole's Apex
For over four years, a solar-gazing probe has been orbiting close to the Sun, providing up-close views of its polar regions. This mission, led by the European Space Agency (ESA), aims to better understand the star's magnetic activity, corona, and atmosphere. During two recent flybys, the Solar Orbiter made a surprising discovery - tiny plasma jets, initially spotted in 2023[1][2].
These jets, resembling thin strands of hair, brightly flash near the Sun's south pole, and surprisingly, they've been identified as the source of both fast and slow solar wind[2]. This revelation, documented in a recent study published by Astronomy and Astrophysics, has left scientists intrigued[1].
These plasma jets, around 100 kilometers in width, flash for approximately one minute, releasing charged particles at a blistering pace of approximately 62 miles per second (100 kilometers per second)[2].
Solar wind, composed of charged particles, hails from the Sun's corona - its outermost atmospheric layer. Fast solar wind emerges from coronal holes, where the Sun's magnetic field lacks the usual inward pull, instead extending out into the solar system[1]. The charged particles utilize the magnetic field lines to depart from the Sun, forming solar wind.
To decipher the process that launches these particles, scientists combined Solar Orbiter's high-definition images with data on solar wind particles and the Sun's magnetic field[2]. This integration established a link between the solar wind and the jets detected by Solar Orbiter[2]. The researchers were even able to trace back slow solar wind to these same jets - a discovery that leaves them astonished[2].
The Solar Orbiter was launched in 2020, tasked with capturing high-resolution, close-up images of the Sun, from a quarter the distance of Earth[2]. Two close approaches to the Sun each year enable the probe to collect more information about these enigmatic jets and their role in solar wind generation[2].
[1] - Enrichment data for the first paragraph[2] - Enrichment data for the revised paragraphs
The discovery of the plasma jets has opened up new avenues for future space exploration and technology, as understanding their role in solar wind generation could lead to improved solar weather forecasting and spacecraft protection. Furthermore, this breakthrough in solar physics underscores the importance of continuous space missions utilizing advanced technology and scientific collaboration between international space agencies.
