NASA spots 'nanojets' on the sun that may solve hot solar mystery (video)

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By Elizabeth Howell
published

See amazing sun views from NASA's IRIS space observatory.

Scientists might have zeroed in on the phenomenon that heats the sun's outer atmosphere, or corona, to mind-bogglingly hot temperatures.

NASA's Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) spacecrafthas captured  the first clear images of nanojets, which are bright thin lights that move perpendicular to magnetic structures in the solar atmosphere. These jets, in turn, show the existence of nanoflares, which are believed to drive coronal heating on the sun, which can reach over a  million degrees Fahrenheit.

Nanoflares are small, but move rapidly and are difficult to spot on the bright sun. Researchers saw the bright jets on April 3, 2014 during a "coronal rain event." This occurred when cooled plasma (superheated gas) fell from the corona to the much cooler surface of the sun. 

Related: The sun's wrath: The worst solar storms in history

This NASA video of images from the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph shows nanojets on the sun captured on April 3, 2014. They may explain why the solar corona is so hot.

This NASA video of images from the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph shows nanojets on the sun captured on April 3, 2014. They  may explain why the solar corona is so hot. (Image credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center)

"Nanojets are considered a 'smoking gun,' key evidence of the presence of nanoflares," NASA said in a statement. "Each nanojet is believed to be initiated by a process known as magnetic reconnection, where twisted magnetic fields explosively realign. One reconnection can set off another reconnection, creating an avalanche of nanojets in the corona of the sun, a process that could create the energy that is heating the corona."

More studies are planned to learn how often nanojets and nanoflares occur, and how much energy they dump into the solar corona. 

Two missions are peering at the sun up close, including NASA's Parker Solar Probe and the European Space Agency's Solar Orbiter. The hope is that by imaging the poles and dipping close to the sun, as these spacecraft will allow researchers to do, we will learn more about the processes that heat the solar corona.

A study based on the research was published in Nature Astronomy on Sept. 21

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Elizabeth Howell
Elizabeth Howell
Staff Writer, Spaceflight

Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022 covering diversity, education and gaming as well. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years before joining full-time. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House and Office of the Vice-President of the United States, an exclusive conversation with aspiring space tourist (and NSYNC bassist) Lance Bass, speaking several times with the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, "Why Am I Taller?", is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. Elizabeth holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, a Bachelor of Journalism from Canada's Carleton University and a Bachelor of History from Canada's Athabasca University. Elizabeth is also a post-secondary instructor in communications and science at several institutions since 2015; her experience includes developing and teaching an astronomy course at Canada's Algonquin College (with Indigenous content as well) to more than 1,000 students since 2020. Elizabeth first got interested in space after watching the movie Apollo 13 in 1996, and still wants to be an astronaut someday. Mastodon: https://qoto.org/@howellspace

1 Comment Comment from the forums
  • Ed Stauffer
    Picture a stream of fast moving dark energy headed for the sun. When the velocity of the stream and the gravity reach a zero G equivalent the dark matter flashes to dark energy creating nano flares. The dark energy being out of the sweet spot absorbs heat from the surface of the sun and reverts to dark matter. Now look at the surface of the sun below the flares.
    Reply