Solar Surveyor

  • Released Thursday, September 29th, 2016
  • Updated Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023 at 1:48PM
  • ID: 12377
The Hinode Solar Observatory celebrates 10 years in space.

The Hinode Solar Observatory celebrates 10 years in space.

Since its launch on September 22, 2006, Hinode, a joint mission of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and NASA, has been watching the sun nearly non-stop, providing valuable insight into our star—and others throughout the universe. The one-ton satellite travels in a sun-synchronous orbit around Earth about 370 miles above the surface. Hinode, meaning "sunrise," is equipped with an extreme ultraviolet instrument as well as optical and X-ray telescopes researchers use to measure changes in the sun’s magnetic field and observe its million-degree outer atmosphere called the corona. In its 10 years of operation, the satellite has captured everything from solar explosions to the delicate motion of solar spicules, allowing scientists to study these phenomena in great detail. Explore the images to learn more.

Watch this video to see highlights from the Hinode satellite's first decade of observations.

On January 4, 2011, Hinode captured this image of the moon passing between Earth and the sun during an annular solar eclipse.

On January 4, 2011, Hinode captured this image of the moon passing between Earth and the sun during an annular solar eclipse.

The thread-like structures in this Hinode image are spicules, giant plumes of gas that transfer energy through the sun’s various regions.

The thread-like structures in this Hinode image are spicules, giant plumes of gas that transfer energy through the sun’s various regions.

Hinode took this image of a solar filament in 2013. Filaments are ribbons of relatively cool material that thread through the sun’s atmosphere.

Hinode took this image of a solar filament in 2013. Filaments are ribbons of relatively cool material that thread through the sun’s atmosphere.

An artist's concept of the Hinode satellite in orbit above Earth.

An artist's concept of the Hinode satellite in orbit above Earth.

For More Information

See NASA.gov

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Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Video courtesy of JAXA/NAOJ
Sun images courtesy of NASA/JAXA/Hinode
Satellite image courtesy of JAXA/NAOJ