For the first time in history we have access to detailed pictures of the sun’s surface. Located on the Haleakala volcano in Maui the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope which is the largest telescope on Earth has captured the most detailed pictures of the sun to date.
Scientists are calling the detail of these photos unprecedented, depicting plasma cells each roughly the size of Texas that rise and fall on the boiling surface. The director of Inouye Thomas Rimmele has said “These are the highest-resolution images and movies of the solar surface ever taken”.
This detailed insight has presented new opportunities to develop our understanding of the sun and our solar system. The Inouye telescope will be at the forefront of learning more about the sun’s processes and solar cycles, giving a profound insight into how the suns events affect the solar system and drive space weather here on Earth.
It is clear that we are just beginning to scratch the surface on what is yet to be uncovered about our star, though with the advancement in technology seen in Inouye telescope we are getting closer and closer.