Solar Particle Acceleration

  • Released Friday, August 22, 2025
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The Sun constantly emits a stream of high energy particles that can be accelerated by magnetic fields and other processes to nearly the speed of light. These particles, made of protons, ions and electrons, can be damaging at Earth where they can impede the function of satellites and telecommunications.

NASA’s IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe) studies particle acceleration to better understand the fundamental processes driving these particles. This information will help scientists better understand and prepare for their effects at Earth, collectively called space weather.

Conceptual Animation With IMAP

At Lagrange Point 1, NASA's IMAP mission will detect solar particle acceleration to better understand the fundamental processes driving these particles that can cause space weather.

Conceptual Animation Without IMAP

As solar particles get accelerated from the Sun, they can cause space weather at Earth that disrupts our communications and technology on Earth and in space.

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab

This page was originally published on Friday, August 22, 2025.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 at 3:47 PM EDT.