Why is Sun's Corona Hotter Than its Surface? NASA's NuSTAR X-Ray Telescope May Have the Answer
Scientists have for the first time, peered at Sun's X-rays thanks to NASA's NuSTAR telescope.
According to BBC, NuSTAR captured Sun's high energy X-rays as an image without sustaining any damage, unlike other telescopes which would be unable to capture the star's given its high intensity in visible wavelengths. Having generated the first of its kind images of the Sun, researchers now hope they could study the star through the breadth of its atmosphere.
"NuSTAR will give us a unique look at the sun, from the deepest to the highest parts of its atmosphere," said solar physicist David Smith in a news release. NuSTAR was put in orbit in 2012.
The telescope has mainly been used to capture powerful X-ray radiation from Black Holes and other objects in deep space.
"At first I thought the whole idea was crazy. Why would we have the most sensitive high energy X-ray telescope ever built, designed to peer deep into the universe, look at something in our own back yard?" said principal investigator Fiona Harrison.
CBC News reported that Sun data from NuSTAR will help solve many mysterious including why Sun's surface is cooler than its outer layer also called Corona. It has been hypothesized that nanoflares, nano version of the giant flares normally seen, could cause temperature rises in the Corona which is normally at 1 million degree Celsius while the surface is much cooler at 6,000 degree Celsius. Researchers wait to see if the telescope can capture nanoflares.
"NuSTAR will be exquisitely sensitive to the faintest X-ray activity happening in the solar atmosphere, and that includes possible nanoflares," said Smith.
The image comes on the heels of a massive solar flares on December 19. Tech Times reported that the flare was one of the most powerful to have ever occured, knocking out communications in some parts of Earth.
