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| | | | | | | Solar-B – a new solar mission to study the dynamic Sun
20 September 2006
| Launched in September 2006, Hinode (Solar-B) is an international mission with ESA participation. It will study the mechanisms which power the solar atmosphere and look for the causes of violent solar eruptions, leading to a better understanding of the complex connection between the Sun and Earth.
Credits: JAXA | |  |  | |
| | | | | The orbit of Hinode (Solar-B) will be synchronised with respect to the Earth's revolution around the Sun. This particular geometry will allow the spacecraft to be in continuous sunlight for at least nine months a year during the planned mission duration of three years.
Credits: JAXA | | | | |
| | | | | This illustration shows a CME blasting off the Sun’s surface in the direction of Earth. This left portion is composed of an EIT 304 image superimposed on a LASCO C2 coronagraph. Two to four days later, the CME cloud is shown striking and beginning to be mostly deflected around the Earth’s magnetosphere. The blue paths emanating from the Earth’s poles represent some of its magnetic field lines. The magnetic cloud of plasma can extend to 30 million miles wide by the time it reaches earth. These storms, which occur frequently, can disrupt communications and navigational equipment, damage satellites, and even cause blackouts.
Credits: ESA/NASA - SOHO/LASCO/EIT | | | | |
| | | | | With its three advanced and highly sensitive telescopes (visible, X-ray and ultraviolet), Hinode (Solar-B) will be able to study the solar magnetic field at scales smaller than ever before, and connect its behaviour to the energetic and powerful processes at work on the Sun.
Credits: JAXA | | | | |
| | | | | ESA and Norway will provide ground station coverage for the Hinode (Solar-B) mission through the Svalbard Satellite Station (SvalSat), situated on the Norwegian Svalbard islands. SvalSat will receive the satellite data for each of Hinode's 15 daily orbits.
Credits: NSC | | | | |
| | | | | Hinode (Solar-B) is designed to provide precise quantitative measurements of the Sun’s magnetic field – the major engine at work to trigger violent solar activity such as solar flares and the powerful Coronal Mass Ejections.
Credits: JAXA | | | | |
| | | | Note to editors
| Hinode (Solar-B) is a sun-pointing spacecraft that weighs 900 kilos. It carries three scientific instruments: a Solar Optical Telescope (SOT), the first large optical telescope flown in space dedicated to observing the Sun; an X-ray Telescope (XRT), to provide coronal images at different temperatures; and a EUV Imaging Spectrometer (EIS), an optical telescope designed to measure the flows of hot gas down to a level of 1 kilometre per second.
Credits: JAXA | | | | |
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| | More about... SOHO overview SOHO 10-year special Related articles ESA’s SOHO will lead a fleet of solar observatoriesNowhere to hide from SOHOHistory’s greatest comet hunter discovers 1000th cometHow we see the far side of the SunComets: 'Sungrazer' cometsWhat are solar flares?Scientists weather a space storm to find its originHow the Sun affects us on EarthRelated links Hinode at JAXAHinode at NASAHinode at STFCBest of SOHO imagesCurrent space weatherESA Space Weather
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