In a groundbreaking discovery, the Solar Orbiter spacecraft and the Parker Solar Probe have jointly made a measurement that could potentially solve the long-standing mystery of why the sun’s corona, or atmosphere, is hotter than its surface. The two spacecraft were able to observe the sun simultaneously, shedding new light on the process of corona heating.
One of the key findings from this observation is that turbulence in the sun’s atmosphere is likely responsible for heating the corona to astronomically high temperatures. While the surface of the sun reaches temperatures of around 10,800 degrees Fahrenheit, the corona can reach an astonishing 1.8 million degrees Fahrenheit.
Scientists have been puzzled by this temperature discrepancy for years, but the recent measurements from the Solar Orbiter and the Parker Solar Probe may finally provide some answers. These two spacecraft have different methods of studying the sun, with the Solar Orbiter observing from a distance and the Parker Solar Probe making in-situ measurements. By combining their observations, scientists can have a more comprehensive understanding of the sun and its heating mechanisms.
To achieve this collaboration, the Solar Orbiter and the Parker Solar Probe had to be in a specific orbital configuration on June 1, 2022. The data collected from this joint observation unveiled turbulence in the corona that may be responsible for transferring energy and heating the atmosphere. This turbulence can be compared to the mixing of coffee when stirred, as it causes energy to be converted into heat.
However, while these findings are significant, further research is still needed to confirm them and fully comprehend the mechanism behind coronal heating. Scientists are hopeful that by delving deeper into this phenomenon, they can gain a better understanding of not only the sun’s corona but also other stars with similar heating discrepancies.
The results of this research were published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, adding to the wealth of knowledge available to scientists and astronomers worldwide. The collaboration between the Solar Orbiter and the Parker Solar Probe has proven to be a remarkable feat, paving the way for more joint efforts in the future to unlock the secrets of our solar system.
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