First view of the Sun's south pole filmed by spacecraft

The European Space Agency's Solar Orbiter spacecraft has achieved a remarkable milestone by sending back the first-ever images and videos of the Sun's south pole. These unprecedented views provide scientists with crucial data to better understand the Sun's behavior, especially how it cycles between periods of intense solar storms and quieter phases. This knowledge is vital because solar storms can disrupt satellite communications and even cause power outages on Earth. The new images reveal a bright, shimmering atmosphere around the Sun's south pole, with temperatures soaring up to one million degrees Celsius in some areas. Interspersed within this glowing atmosphere are darker clouds of gas, which, while cooler, still reach scorching temperatures of about one hundred thousand degrees Celsius. These images are the closest and most detailed ever captured of the Sun, offering scientists an invaluable opportunity to study the star that sustains life on Earth. Professor Carole Mundell, the Director of Science at the European Space Agency, emphasized the importance of these images, stating that understanding the Sun is essential not only because it gives us life but also because it can disrupt modern technology and power systems.

From our viewpoint on Earth, the Sun appears as a bright, featureless disc. However, when observed through special filters and at different frequencies, the Sun reveals itself as a dynamic, fluid ball of hot gases with magnetic fields twisting and turning across its surface. These magnetic fields are responsible for the Sun's activity, including the creation of solar flares and loops of gas that extend into its atmosphere. The Sun experiences cycles where its magnetic fields are orderly, with a fixed magnetic north and south pole, leading to quieter periods with fewer violent explosions. Approximately every 11 years, the Sun undergoes a magnetic pole reversal, during which the magnetic fields become chaotic and complex. This chaotic phase results in violent solar storms that hurl particles toward Earth. These storms can damage satellites and power grids but also produce stunning auroras in the sky.

Professor Lucie Green from University College London explained that predicting solar activity has been challenging because scientists lacked data on how magnetic fields migrate toward the poles. The Solar Orbiter has now provided this missing piece of the puzzle by capturing detailed images and measurements of the Sun's magnetic field movements. The spacecraft itself is a grey box with antennas and solar panels, positioned near the Sun to capture these close-up images. The ultimate goal of this mission is to develop accurate computer models that can predict space weather, allowing satellite operators, power companies, and aurora watchers to prepare for intense solar storms. Professor Christopher Owen, a specialist in solar wind studies, described this as the 'Holy Grail of solar physics,' noting that while Solar Orbiter has brought scientists closer to understanding space weather, more research is needed before reliable predictions of solar eruptions can be made. Additionally, the spacecraft has captured images of various chemical elements on the Sun, such as hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, neon, and magnesium, using an instrument called SPICE. This instrument measures specific frequencies of light emitted by these elements, helping scientists track how solar material moves and how particles are ejected from the Sun as solar wind.