NASA just released a new video depicting the sun's electromagnetic field for the first time ever, which can provide crucial information for future deep space missions. The new solar model also explains how the magnetic field behaves.
In this video, invisible magnetic streams in linear form where the sun appears to be in a constant flux of high energies, emitting powerful, magnetically charged solar particles.
NASA scientists combined real time observations with computer model simulations in order to gain a better understanding of how magnetic energies flow through the upper atmosphere of the sun, which can reach a scorching temperature of millions of degrees on its corona, that cannot be viewed with visible light.
According to Dean Pesnell of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, the source is still unknown where this magnetic field is originating from, however, it is estimated to be close to the solar surface or deep inside the core, that can possess a wide range of depths.
Scientists consider this as crucial data, as pinpointing the source of this magnetic system can provide a better understanding of the solar system and space.
This solar magnetic field is also responsible for solar explosions that can affect space weather and phenomena on Earth such as auroras, where the planet's magnetic field is bombarded with radiation from the sun, as these energies travel through space, penetrating our own magnetic field.
NASA explains that these invisible magnetic fields of the sun can be observed by monitoring the sun's plasma, where this gas like matter filled with electrons and ions are separated, that can create an intensely hot mix of charged particles.
Pesnell adds how the shape of the solar magnetic field above the surface of the sun can guide the motion of this plasma, with looping and towering streams of material emanating from this corona glow that is brightly shown in images.
Using a magnetograph, precise measurements of the sun's surface or photosphere's magnetic loops can be obtained that can also provide data about its power and direction of magnetic fields.
The solar maximum power of this magnetic field can create a complicated shape along with smaller structures all throughout which indicate active regions. During solar minimum power, this field is weaker where energies are concentrated along the sun's poles, with very smooth features where sunspots do not form.