How satellites peering above our atmosphere revolutionized our understanding of the Sun
In short: Earth's atmosphere acts as a shield, absorbing much of the Sun's ultraviolet and X-ray radiation. To truly understand our closest star, scientists had to launch instruments above this veil, using missions like SOHO and TRACE to observe the solar atmosphere and predict dangerous solar outbursts.
The study of the Sun, or heliophysics, has evolved significantly since Thomas Harriot first observed sunspots through a telescope in 1610. While astronomers like Pieter Zeeman and George Ellery Hale laid the groundwork by discovering how magnetic fields affect spectral lines and sunspots, it was the advent of space-based observatories that truly transformed the discipline. By placing instruments above the atmosphere, scientists could finally detect wavelengths—such as X-rays and gamma-rays—that are typically deflected or absorbed by Earth's gases.
The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), a joint mission between NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) launched in December 1995, was designed to study the Sun "inside out." Originally intended to last until 1998, SOHO has far exceeded its lifespan, providing continuous observations of the Sun's interior, the solar atmosphere, and the solar wind. Beyond solar science, SOHO has also contributed to astronomy by discovering more than 5,000 comets.
Complementing SOHO, the Transition Region and Coronal Explorer (TRACE) operated from 1998 to 2010. TRACE focused on the dynamics of the upper solar atmosphere, specifically the corona, and was the first mission to observe the Sun through an entire solar cycle. These missions are vital because solar activity, including solar flares and coronal mass ejections, produces radiation that can impact satellites and astronauts in space. As NASA scientists Alex Young and Dawn Meyers have noted, each satellite provides a unique perspective on these complex solar processes.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: NASA | SOHO and TRACE Solar Discoveries
- Also: NASA SVS | SOHO – Solar and Heliospheric Observatory
- Also: The Greatest Missions to the Sun | Space
- Also: A Look Back at NASA Solar Missions - NASA
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