Solar Orbiter is the most complex scientific laboratory ever sent to the Sun. By combining observations from Solar Orbiter’s six remote sensing instruments and four embedded instruments, scientists hope to answer some deep questions. Now, a solar mystery that has been going on for 65 years is being solved, thanks to this ESA spacecraft.
What does the solar mystery mean?
The mystery in question is why the Sun’s atmosphere is so hot. This “coronal heating problem” has long puzzled astronomers. But a joint operation between Parker Solar Probe (NASA’s space probe) and Solar Orbiter may finally provide an answer to this mystery.
According to a new post from the European Space Agency (ESA), Solar Orbiter was recently repositioned and subjected to a synchronous collaboration with Parker Solar Probe to enable it to observe the Sun from a slightly different angle. ESA says this allows Solar Orbiter to synchronize with measurements taken by Parker Solar Probe, providing a groundbreaking measurement unlike anything made before.
The Sun’s atmosphere, known as the corona, is extremely hot. Perhaps this seems like an understatement, considering that our Sun is a very massive star, but the atmosphere measures roughly one million degrees Celsius. Despite the obvious fact that the Sun’s atmosphere is hot, the mystery of why it is so hot has baffled scientists. Because the surface of the Sun is actually only 6,000 degrees Celsius.
So the corona is somehow 150 times hotter than the surface. This coronal heating issue is at the heart of missions to study the Sun. While these tasks individually provide intriguing information, when working together they can provide even more in-depth measurements, which could eventually help us solve this intriguing mystery.
It is believed that there is a method of transferring energy to the plasma in the Sun’s atmosphere. But scientists have never been able to say exactly what it is. Now that Solar Orbit has repositioned itself, we may finally get more answers. Although the most successful solar mission ever is at risk, we can say that it will be worth it to solve this mystery.
So what do you think about this issue? You can share your thoughts with us in the comments section.
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