New Mission Will Take First Peek at Sun’s Poles

The video discusses the challenges of solar imaging, particularly the difficulty in mapping the sun's poles due to the ecliptic plane. The Solar Orbiter mission, a collaboration between ESA and NASA, aims to capture the first images of the sun's poles by using gravity assists from Earth and Venus. The mission will help understand the sun's magnetic field, which flips every 11 years, affecting solar activity and Earth. The Solar Orbiter is equipped with 10 instruments to observe solar eruptions and measure solar material. It will endure extreme temperatures and radiation, protected by a titanium shield. By the end of its seven-year mission, it will provide unprecedented insights into the sun's behavior.

What challenges will the Solar Orbiter face when approaching the sun?

In what ways will the Solar Orbiter enhance our understanding of the sun?