New high-resolution images of the sun show just how terrifyingly close its structure is

Europe’s largest solar telescope has released unprecedented Close-up pictures Of the sun – they are a little terrifying. Gregor, a telescope operated by a team of German scientists at the Deed Laboratory in Spain, has received new high – resolution images of the complex structure of the sun – the best captured by a European telescope. Scientists said.

Scientists and engineers at the Leibniz Institute for Solar Physics (KIS) have unveiled a large redesign of the telescope, researchers said. The new optics allows scientists to study magnetic fields, convection, turbulence, solar flares and sunspots in more detail than ever before.

Scientists, using GREGOR, can study data at a distance of 30 miles from the surface of the sun – a small area with a diameter of 865,000 miles. “It’s like seeing a needle in a haystack from a distance of a kilometer,” the researchers said.

The sun is subject to many events, from sunspots to solar storms and flares – many of which are driven by its intense magnetic field. Not much is understood about the magnetic field, so very close images of the sun’s surface are important to reveal its problems.

The photos show “astonishing” details of sunlight evolution and complex structures in solar plasma, the researchers said. Sunspots are temporarily dark areas due to magnetic field flow due to reduced surface temperature.

“This is a very exciting, but very challenging project. We redesigned the optics, dynamics and electronics to achieve the best picture quality in just one year,” said Dr. Lucia Clint, who led the project. News release.

The team’s research was initially halted Corona virus Locking, but researchers say they are eager to return to the lab when Spain reopens in July.

By learning about the Sun’s magnetic field, scientists can better advise on technology such as satellites and how to protect our planet from solar activity.

“This project is very risky because such telescopic upgrades usually take many years, but better team work and precise planning have led to this success,” said Dr. Svetlana Berdyugina, Director of KIS. “Now the sun is a powerful tool to solve puzzles.”