NOAA’s GOES-19 satellite takes the first images of solar eruptions
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has unveiled the first images from its groundbreaking space telescope, the Compact Coronagraph (CCOR-1), which captured a vivid solar storm. Positioned on NOAA’s newest satellite, GOES-19, this new instrument is the first operational coronagraph in space designed to actively monitor the Sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona.
A revolution in space weather forecasting
Launched on June 25, CCOR-1 began its mission on September 19 to monitor solar activity, including coronal mass ejections (CMEs) – powerful bursts of solar plasma and magnetic fields that can disrupt Earth’s magnetic field. Mounted on the geostationary GOES-19 satellite, CCOR-1 uses an occult disk to block sunlight, capturing high-resolution images of solar storms that the sun’s glare would otherwise obscure.
A recent image taken on September 29 shows a clear CME emerging from the sun’s eastern edge at 8:15 a.m. EDT. NOAA officials marked The visual details of the Sun’s corona in these images show flowing plasma disrupted by the explosive CME, which is moving at speeds of up to thousands of kilometers per second.
Improving preparedness for solar storms
As an operational instrument, CCOR-1 differs from previous scientific coronagraphs in that it provides real-time data for space weather forecasting. This advantage allows NOAA to provide earlier warnings of CMEs, which could potentially cause power outages, communications disruptions and increased risks to astronauts. Fortunately, the recent CME was pointed away from Earth, but NOAA emphasized that these images significantly aid space weather monitoring.
Further expansion of space-based monitoring
Launched atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, GOES-19 is still undergoing post-launch testing, with CCOR-1 expected to be fully operational in spring 2025. NOAA plans to deploy additional space-based coronagraphs as part of its Space Weather Next initiative, improving preparedness and providing early warnings against the effects of solar weather on Earth.
