Solar Orbiter spacecraft will capture the sun's north and south poles

[Judi Lynn]

Hannah Devlin Science correspondent

@hannahdev
Fri 7 Feb 2020 06.10 EST

The sun’s uncharted north and south poles are set to be revealed for the first time by an ambitious mission that will fly above our home star and beam back images.

The Solar Orbiter spacecraft, a joint Nasa and European Space Agency (ESA) mission, is set to be launched from Cape Canaveral just after 4am UK time on Monday morning, and will reach its vantage point above the planetary plane by the end of 2021.

From Earth, the sun looks like a perfectly uniform fiery ball, but scientists say that its extremities could look unfamiliar, possibly featuring gaping dark holes or angular geometric structures.

“There’s no rational reasons why the poles shouldn’t be different”, said Mark McCaughrean, senior advisor for science & exploration at ESA. “Be prepared for surprises.”

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/feb/07/solar-orbiter-spacecraft-will-capture-the-suns-north-and-south-poles

[eppur_se_muova]

1. All your poles are belong to us. nt