‘10,000 tiny explosions’: Why the Sun’s wind is stronger than we ever knew
Produced by: Manoj Kumar
Hidden Jets
Faint, high-speed solar jets have been identified across the Sun’s coronal holes, launching charged particles into space. These findings could finally reveal how the solar wind is generated.
Fast Wisps
Though they last just a minute, these tiny jets propel particles at 100 km/s (224,000 mph). Spotted by the Solar Orbiter, they could be the missing link in understanding solar wind origins.
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Elusive Wind
For decades, scientists knew the solar wind streamed from coronal holes, but how it was ejected remained unclear. New observations confirm these small jets contribute to both fast and slow solar wind.
Major Breakthrough
Led by Lakshmi Pradeep Chitta from the Max Planck Institute, a study published in Astronomy & Astrophysics connects solar wind measured in space directly to these newly discovered jets.
Surprising Origin
Scientists assumed fast and slow solar wind came from different processes. Now, for the first time, both have been traced back to the same coronal hole jets, rewriting theories on solar wind generation.
Solar Clues
Using advanced imaging, Solar Orbiter captured high-resolution footage of these jets. Direct particle measurements confirmed that the wind detected near the spacecraft matched those jet emissions.
Closer Look
Solar Orbiter’s close passes to the Sun in 2022 and 2023 provided the crucial data. As the spacecraft continues its journey, upcoming flybys will refine our understanding of how solar wind is launched.
Mission Power
A joint ESA-NASA effort, Solar Orbiter is equipped with cutting-edge instruments like the Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (EUI) and Solar Wind Plasma Analyser (SWA) to track and measure solar activity.
Credit : ESA
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Unraveling Secrets
With each new observation, Solar Orbiter sheds light on the Sun’s most perplexing mysteries. These tiny jets could be the long-sought answer to how the solar wind affects planets across the Solar System.