Researchers analyzing data from the Solar Orbiter Aircraft, a collaborative mission by the European Space Agency and NASA, have identified picoflare jets originating from the sun’s outer atmosphere. These brief jets, emitting from a coronal hole, last only seconds but deliver significant energy, contributing to solar winds. Despite their diminutive size, picoflare jets play a vital role, impacting Earth’s magnetic field and posing risks to satellite electronics. The Solar Orbiter Aircraft, launched in 2020, aims to capture close-up images of the sun, study its magnetic activity cycle, and explore the sun’s corona.
Facts/Terms for UPSC Prelims
- Coronal Hole: A region in the sun’s outer atmosphere where the magnetic field allows solar material to flow more freely, often associated with increased solar wind.
- Solar Winds: Streams of charged particles, primarily electrons and protons, released from the sun, influencing space weather and Earth’s magnetosphere.
- Auroras: Natural light displays in the Earth’s sky, usually near the polar regions, caused by interactions between solar winds and Earth’s magnetic field.
- Magnetosphere: The region of space around a celestial body (like Earth) where its magnetic field dominates the behavior of charged particles.
- Remote-Sensing Instruments: Tools and devices on spacecraft that collect data from a distance, such as cameras or spectrometers.
