Solar flares unveiled: Inside the ESA's captivating new footage
The European Space Agency (ESA) has released footage showcasing what a solar flare looks like. The material was captured in September 2024 as part of the Solar Orbiter mission. During a solar flare, radio waves are also emitted.
The ESA highlights an intriguing phenomenon surrounding a strong solar flare, which was documented in the latter half of last year. The footage reveals an explosion, following which vast amounts of energy are released, and the plasma is heated to millions of degrees Fahrenheit within minutes, ESA explains on Instagram. The Extreme Ultraviolet Imager camera recorded this material as part of the Solar Orbiter mission.
The phenomenon of a major solar flare is compelling not just due to the temperature. Electrons are propelled into space and subsequently radio waves are emitted as they interact with other particles. The entire event is recorded by the probe and stored. Volunteers can enrol in the program to "listen" to the explosions themselves. ESA notes that the longest recordings of this nature can last several hours.
ESA encourages participation in the Zooniverse project, where anyone interested—without needing a PhD—can assist in analysing this type of data. This is a valuable source of knowledge for scientists, which has often led to the discovery of new facts. According to Zooniverse, the efforts focus on analysing data for which verification by other means—aside from manual human analysis—is inefficient or challenging, making it the sole path to obtaining valuable data.
Solar Orbiter mission
The Solar Orbiter is a joint mission between the European Space Agency and NASA to conduct a detailed study of the Sun. The probe was launched into space on February 9, 2020. Its task is to observe the Sun from unprecedentedly close distances, allowing for the acquisition of incredibly detailed data. One example is the aforementioned recording of a powerful explosion and energy ejection.
The Solar Orbiter allows scientists to better understand how the Sun influences space weather and the Earth. The probe has advanced instruments that enable in-depth studies of the heliosphere and solar cycles. This mission allows scientists to visualize the solar poles for the first time, which is crucial for understanding the dynamics of our star.
