Unveiling the Sun’s Southern Pole
The European Space Agency has released the first-ever images of the Sun’s southern pole, captured by the Solar Orbiter spacecraft. This milestone marks a significant step forward in understanding the Sun’s behavior and its impact on space weather.
The Sun’s southern pole is a complex and dynamic region, featuring a turbulent atmosphere with temperatures reaching up to 1 million degrees Celsius. The images reveal a dark, cooler gas cloud scattered throughout the area, with temperatures still reaching a scorching 100,000 degrees Celsius.
Professor Carole Mundell, ESA’s Director of Science, emphasized the importance of studying the Sun, stating, “The Sun is the closest star to us, giving us life and potentially disrupting our energy systems on Earth and in space. It’s crucial we understand how it works and learn to predict its behavior.”
The Sun’s magnetic field plays a vital role in determining its activity, with the field’s polarity flip occurring every 11 years. During this period, the Sun’s magnetic field becomes increasingly complex, leading to intense solar flares and coronal mass ejections.
According to Professor Lucy Green from University College London, current computer models struggle to predict the Sun’s activity due to the lack of data on the magnetic field’s movement towards the poles. However, the Solar Orbiter’s advanced instrumentation will provide crucial insights into the Sun’s magnetic field, enabling scientists to develop more accurate models.
The ultimate goal of the Solar Orbiter mission is to create a reliable computer model of the Sun, allowing for accurate predictions of space weather. This will enable satellite operators, energy companies, and aurora enthusiasts to better prepare for and respond to solar storms.
Sources:
BBC