Astronomers finally captured the first images of the sun's chromosphere. The implementation of this image is attributed to the Daniel K. Inouye solar telescope. National Science Foundation shared images this week were taken in June. Now, we can finally take a look at the part of the atmosphere just above the surface of the sun, which was impossible before.
James Webb Space Telescope is the most powerful telescope built by scientists to study the early universe, and the Daniel K. Inouye solar telescope is the largest solar telescope ever. This telescope is placed on a land of spiritual and cultural significance to Hawaiian , aiming to study our stars and take images of chromospheres, etc.
The telescope took the first images of these solar chromospheres, operated by the National Solar Observatory. Understanding the sun has always been a goal for astronomers, and with such technology, we can finally study more deeply what makes our stars move. But it didn't stop there.
These images are not just data for scientists to study. They are also absolutely beautiful, and being able to capture images of the sun's chromosphere is almost a miracle in itself, especially when you consider the kind of precautions you need to take to observe the sun with such a powerful lens. A better understanding of the sun can also unlock new potential for space exploration.
For example, the Earth is often hit by solar energy released during solar flares , just like the solar flares photographed by astronomer Andrew McCarthy in video. A better understanding of the sun, and even capturing the first images of these chromospheres, can allow us to create techniques that better detect these types of bursts. This could help NASA and other space agencies better prepare the planet for the upcoming solar flares.
Daniel K. Inouye solar telescope will usher in a new era in our study of the sun. The first images of these chromosphere layers are just the beginning, and the first images similar to webber are just an attempt to capabilities of the space telescope. As scientists take more observations of the sun, we will hopefully uncover some of the mysteries of our stars that have long plagued scientists.
