China Solar Explorer Satellite Capable of Rapid Multi-Spectral High-res Scans
The China H-alpha Solar Explorer (CHASE) satellite is capable of conducting rapid solar H-alpha high-resolution spectral imaging in just dozens of seconds each time. It is much like recording precise computed tomography (CT) scans of the Sun to advance humanity's understanding of the rotation of the solar atmosphere.
Discoveries in solar atmospheric rotation patterns by the CHASE satellite were published in the international science journal Nature Astronomy on Thursday, June 13, 2024:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-024-02299-4
Scientists were able to make the discoveries through accurate 3D imagery of solar atmospheric rotation put together by CHASE's multi-spectral, full disk, high precision scans. The satellite, placed into a sun-synchronous orbit, is able to acquire more comprehensive and accurate solar data by being outside the Earth's atmosphere. It also marked the world's first practical use of solar H-alpha spectral imaging in space.
"It only takes 46 seconds for CHASE to scan the whole solar disk. We are able to get more than 300 images of the whole solar disk at different layers, which is equivalent to a CT scan of the solar atmosphere," said Li Chuan, chief designer of CHASE's application system.
CHASE's full-disk spectral observation data also allows scientists to further study the transportation of matter and energy in the solar atmosphere, as well as solar flares. This is important since we are now experiencing Solar Cycle 25, and the Sun’s activity will ramp up until solar maximum, predicted for 2025. This high solar activity is warming Earth's upper atmosphere. China also uses its Advanced Space-based Solar Observatory (ASO-S), launched in 2022, to continuously monitor solar activity.
Video Credit: CCTV Video News Agency
Duration: 1 minute, 19 seconds
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