New Camera Technique Enables Solar Orbiter to Explore the Sun’s Atmosphere in Greater Depth

Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in solar imaging thanks to a last-minute modification to the Solar Orbiter’s Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (EUI) camera. This modification has allowed the camera to capture images of the Sun’s atmosphere at extreme ultraviolet wavelengths, which were previously impossible to obtain. The new mode of operation, known as the occulter mode, has the potential to revolutionize future solar instruments for space missions.

The EUI camera, designed to capture high-resolution images of the structures in the Sun’s atmosphere called the corona, underwent a last-minute modification to its safety door. This modification involved adding a small protruding ‘thumb’ to the door, allowing it to block the Sun’s bright disc when halfway open. By doing so, the camera can detect the much fainter ultraviolet light emanating from the surrounding corona.

Frédéric Auchère, a member of the EUI team, described this modification as a “hack” but emphasized its simplicity and effectiveness. Since 2021, tests with the EUI occulter have been ongoing, and the team is now confident in its successful operation. They have even published a paper and a video showcasing their results.

The video demonstrates an ultraviolet image of the Sun’s corona captured using the EUI occulter. The image of the Sun’s disc, taken by NASA’s STEREO mission, has been superimposed in the middle, allowing for a comparison between the features on the surface and those in the corona. Traditionally, dedicated instruments called coronagraphs were used to capture images of the Sun’s corona. However, with this new approach, both imaging of the Sun and its corona can be achieved using the same instrument.

Daniel Müller, ESA’s Project Scientist for Solar Orbiter, expressed excitement about the possibilities this new approach opens up for future instruments. Additionally, EUI’s occulter mode provides scientists with the ability to explore the Sun’s atmosphere in greater depth. This region, which lies beyond the field of view of classical EUV imagers and is usually obscured by traditional coronagraphs, holds secrets that researchers can now uncover.

David Berghmans, the EUI Principal Investigator, believes that this little-explored region of the Sun’s atmosphere holds valuable information about changing physics and magnetic structures. The Solar Orbiter mission, a collaboration between ESA and NASA, is set to continue providing new scientific insights with the help of the modified EUI camera.

In conclusion, the last-minute modification to the Solar Orbiter’s EUI camera has allowed scientists to capture images of the Sun’s atmosphere at extreme ultraviolet wavelengths. This breakthrough, known as the occulter mode, has the potential to transform future solar instruments for space missions. By combining imaging of the Sun and its corona into a single instrument, researchers can explore previously uncharted regions of the Sun’s atmosphere and uncover new scientific discoveries. The Solar Orbiter mission continues to push the boundaries of solar exploration and promises to reveal even more secrets about our nearest star.