Solar Orbiter Traces Origin of Energetic Solar Electrons
Why in the news
New results from the European Space Agency’s Solar Orbiter show where energetic solar electrons come from, offering the first clear evidence tying particles in space to their origin on the Sun.
Key facts
- Between November 2020 and December 2022 the spacecraft recorded more than 300 bursts of energetic electrons.
- Two types of Solar Energetic Electrons were seen: those from solar flares and those from coronal mass ejections.
- A delay appears between the solar event and detection because of the particles’ escape time and scattering by turbulence.
- Better understanding aids prediction of space weather that affects satellite communication, GPS and power grids.
About Solar Orbiter
Solar Orbiter is a joint mission of ESA and NASA launched in 2020. It carries ten instruments to measure the solar wind and observe the surface remotely, and it is the first spacecraft to image the Sun’s poles. Its goals include studying the Sun’s 11-year magnetic cycle, how the corona is heated and how the solar wind is formed and accelerated.
Exam angle
- Mission-type questions: Solar Orbiter belongs to ESA with NASA.
- Learn the two sources of energetic electrons: flares and CMEs.
- Remember the cycle length of 11 years and the space weather link.