What New Discoveries From The ESA-NASA Solar Orbiter Shed Light On The Sun's Activity

From recent high-latitude observations and coordinated measurements with other spacecraft, the ESA-NASA Solar Orbiter has made significant discoveries that are shedding new light on the Sun's activity. Major findings include the first-ever views of the Sun's magnetic pole, an explanation for how solar wind is accelerated, and the identification of distinct origins for superfast electrons.

Discoveries From The Sun's Polar Regions

For the first time, Solar Orbiter provided direct images of the Sun's polar regions, which are inaccessible from Earth's vantage point. These images captured during the Sun's magnetic field reversal revealed key information about the star's eleven-year cycle.

• Chaotic polar magnetic fields. The Polarimetric and Helioseismic Imager (PHI) captured a disorganized mix of both north and south magnetic polarities at the Sun's poles. This observation occurred during the solar maximum, the most active phase of the solar cycle, when the magnetic field is in the process of flipping. This "messy magnetism" validates long-held theoretical models of the solar dynamo, which suggest the poles play a critical role in this cyclical reversal.
• Tracking material movement. The Spectral Imaging of the Coronal Environment (SPICE) instrument measured the velocity of super-hot gases in the solar atmosphere, which is driven by the Sun's magnetic field. Tracking the flow of material in these previously unseen regions helps scientists understand how the Sun's internal mechanics shape space weather.

New Insights Into The Solar Wind

By combining data with NASA's Parker Solar Probe, the mission has provided conclusive evidence answering long-standing questions about the solar wind, the stream of charged particles flowing from the Sun.

• Alfvén waves fuel fast solar wind: Researchers confirmed that large, dynamic oscillations in the Sun's magnetic field, known as Alfvén waves, are responsible for accelerating the fast solar wind. The spacecraft measured a transfer of energy from the Sun's magnetic field to the plasma, which explained how the solar wind is propelled to its high speeds.
• Tiny jets power the solar wind: Building on an earlier discovery, scientists used Solar Orbiter to confirm that tiny, fleeting jets of material in the Sun's corona contribute significantly to both the fast and slow solar wind.
• A new type of fast solar wind: In March 2025, Solar Orbiter discovered a new type of fast solar wind originating from regions of high magnetic expansion. Researchers theorize this is due to the "Laval nozzle effect," where gas accelerates dramatically by passing through a constricted area.

Solar Orbiter has successfully traced the source of superfast electrons, known as Solar Energetic Electrons (SEEs), which are a component of "space weather" and can damage spacecraft.

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