Monitoring of solar activity

Monitoring of solar activity

Living close to the star is risky, but the location of a nearby spacecraft allows you to track the rapid variability of solar activity and deliver early warnings of possible dangerous space weather.

Most of the time, the Sun is engaged in familiar activities, providing stable and predictable amounts of heat and light, allowing life to develop in comfortable conditions on Earth.

In addition, our star controls the terrestrial weather and creates a “shake-up” in the space environment - space weather. The sun not only generates a continuous stream of electrically charged atomic particles, but also periodically releases billions of tons of material permeated by magnetic fields. This event is called coronal mass ejection.

Usually these giant clouds of matter bypass our planet. But if something gets, it can break the protective magnetic bubble of the Earth and the upper atmospheric layer. Under attack are orbital satellites, navigation system, power grids and data networks.

Activity Picture

In such circumstances, we have to have a warning system. A recent study by ESA has shown that one extreme space weather event for Europe alone will cost 15 billion euros. For example, even moderate space weather phenomena can damage electrical networks serving homes, hospitals and schools. Improving the warning system will allow measures to be taken to protect networks

One of the best ways to track the variability of our star's activity is to position the spacecraft a little further away from the straight line Earth-Sun, so that it can observe the other side of the star before it turns towards us.

Virtual points in space

One of the locations is the fifth point of Lagrange. She “pushed” from the Earth by 60 degrees. L5 is considered to be an ideal place for the future ESA mission, as it gives a preliminary overview of what is happening on the sun.

Monitoring of solar activity

Lagrange points associated with the solar-terrestrial system

The spacecraft provided important information that will help determine emissions, improve the time it takes to reach Earth, and provide a preliminary understanding of active solar regions.

First mission on L5

ESA representatives have already begun to consider this concept. Four European industrial and scientific consortia will develop a future mission on L5. The final project is planned to choose in 18 months.

Monitoring of solar activity

Proba-2 - ESA satellite

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