What Powers the Solar Wind?
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Produced by the Space Telescope Science Institute’s Office of Public Outreach in collaboration with NASA’s Universe of Learning partners: Caltech/IPAC, Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Video imagery:
- Animation, Sun and wind: NASA Goddard/CIL/Adriana Manrique Gutierrez
- Animation, Sun’s magnetic switchbacks: NASA Goddard/CIL/Adriana Manrique Gutierrez
- Animation, Parker Solar Probe FIELDS data: NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio
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Brilliantly colored images of galaxies, solar systems, and star birthing centers.
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Title: News From the Universe.
Text: September 6, 2024.
What produces the solar wind?
Scientists have made a crucial connection between data from two missions studying our sun: NASA's Parker Solar Probe and the ESA/NASA Solar Orbiter.
The two missions allowed scientists to compare how much energy is stored in the fluctuations of waves close to the Sun (measured by Parker) to those farther away (studied by Solar Orbiter).
They found persuasive evidence that the fastest solar winds are powered by magnetic "switchbacks," or large kinks in the magnetic field.
Discovering more about the solar wind helps us understand our solar system and other planetary systems, including the habitability of exoplanets around other Sun-like stars.
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This news was brought to you in part by the Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Massachusetts.