A team of astronomers recently achieved a remarkable feat by observing an active region of the Sun continuously for over three months. This unprecedented observation, which spanned from its emergence to its disappearance, holds the potential to enhance understanding of solar activity and improve predictions of space weather.
The active region, designated as NOAA 13664, first appeared on the far side of the Sun on April 16, 2024, and later rotated into view in May. Its arrival coincided with significant geomagnetic storms, marking a period of intense solar activity that affected regions on Earth not typically exposed to such phenomena. This active region eventually rotated out of sight on July 18, 2024, but not before astronomers managed to track its development almost without interruption.
Normally, astronomers can monitor solar regions for only about two weeks at a time, due to the Sun’s 28-day rotation cycle. However, in this instance, two spacecraft provided a unique opportunity to observe NOAA 13664 simultaneously from different vantage points. The Solar Orbiter, launched by the European Space Agency (ESA) in 2020, was positioned to observe the far side of the Sun during the region’s formation. At the same time, NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory maintained continuous observation from its orbit around Earth.
“This is the longest continuous series of images ever created for a single active region,” said Ioannis Kontogiannis, a solar physicist at ETH Zurich in Switzerland. He described the achievement as a milestone in the field of solar physics. The extended observation window allowed researchers to study the evolution of the region’s magnetic fields and how these changes drive solar activity, which can have significant implications for technology on Earth.
Solar storms, while visually stunning, pose risks to satellites, power grids, and communication systems. As such, understanding their behavior is crucial for mitigating potential disruptions. The findings from this research were published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, showcasing the importance of continuous monitoring in advancing solar science.
The ability to track NOAA 13664 for a record 90 days could lead to better forecasting of space weather events, enhancing preparedness for future solar storms. As scientists continue to deepen their understanding of solar dynamics, such breakthroughs will play a critical role in safeguarding infrastructure on Earth against the impacts of solar activity.
