A groundbreaking ‘coronal adaptive optics’ system, developed by astronomers, is providing the clearest images and movies ever seen of the Sun’s corona by counteracting atmospheric blurring.

This image is a snapshot from a 16-minute time-lapse movie showing the formation and collapse of a complexly shaped plasma stream traveling at almost 100 km per seconds in front of a coronal loop system. This is likely the first time such a stream, which the scientists refer to as plasmoid, has been observed, leaving them wondering about the physical explanation of the observed dynamics. This image was taken by the Goode Solar Telescope at Big Bear Solar Observatory using the new coronal adaptive optics system Cona. The image shows the hydrogen-alpha light emitted by the solar plasma. The image is artificially colorized, yet based on the color of hydrogen-alpha light, and darker color is brighter light. Image credit: Schmidt et al. / NJIT / NSO / AURA / NSF.

The solar corona, the Sun’s outermost atmospheric layer, has always fascinated scientists due to its high temperatures and energetic activity. Though, observing it is indeed challenging.

According to Dr. Dirk Schmidt, an adaptive optics scientist at the National Solar Observatory, “The turbulence in the air severely degrades images of objects in space, like our Sun, seen through our telescopes. But we can correct for that.”

The Cona system corrects for atmospheric distortions, enabling unprecedented views from the 1.6-m Goode Solar Telescope (GST) at Big Bear Solar Observatory.

Dr. Nicolas Gorceix, an optical engineer and chief observer at Big Bear Solar Observatory, explains, “Adaptive optics is like a pumped-up autofocus and optical image stabilization in your smartphone camera, but correcting for the errors in the atmosphere rather than the user’s shaky hands.”

Dynamic Solar Prominences and Plasma Streams

One notable observation includes a movie showcasing the rapid restructuring of a solar prominence, revealing intricate internal flows.

Solar prominences are extensive, luminous structures that extend from the Sun’s surface, frequently enough in the shape of arches.

Another movie captures the swift formation and disintegration of a detailed plasma stream.

“These are by far the most detailed observations of this kind, showing features not previously observed, and it’s not quite clear what they are,”

Professor vasyl Yurchyshyn of new Jersey Institute of Technology stated, “These are by far the most detailed observations of this kind, showing features not previously observed, and it’s not quite clear what they are.”

Dr. Schmidt added, “It is indeed super exciting to build an instrument that shows us the Sun like never before.”

Coronal Rain and Magnetic Fields

A third movie depicts coronal rain, were cooled plasma condenses and falls back towards the Sun.

Dr. Thomas Schad, an astronomer at the National Solar Observatory, noted, “Raindrops in the Sun’s corona can be narrower than 20 km.” He added, “These findings offer new invaluable observational insight that is vital to test computer models of coronal processes.”

Another movie illustrates the dramatic influence of the Sun’s magnetism on a solar prominence.

Dr. Thomas Rimmele, chief technologist at the National Solar Observatory, stated, “the new coronal adaptive optics system closes this decades-old gap and delivers images of coronal features at 63 km resolution – the theoretical limit of the 1.6-m Goode Solar Telescope.”

“This technological advancement is a game-changer, there is a lot to discover when you boost your resolution by a factor of 10,” Dr. Schmidt concluded.

The findings were published in Nature astronomy.