The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), a joint project of the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA, launched in 1995, is designed to study the Sun, its atmosphere, and the solar wind. It has provided knowledge into the structure of the Sun, including its magnetic field, solar flares, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and solar variability.
Now, the SOHO mission has achieved a milestone in its journey by capturing its 5,000th comet as it traverses around the solar star in our cosmic neighbourhood.
The mission has 12 instruments, including telescopes and spectrometers, which observe the Sun in various wavelengths of light, from ultraviolet to visible to X-rays.
These observations help scientists better understand solar phenomena and their impact on space weather, which can affect satellites, power grids, and communication systems on Earth.
The latest comet, named SOHO-5000, belongs to the Marsden group. It is a part of the larger comet 96P/Machholz.
Sungrazer Project
The comet was spotted on March 25, 2024, by Hanjie Tan, an astronomy enthusiast. Tan is involved in the Sungrazer Project, where both amateur and professional astronomers search for, observe, and study comets that graze the Sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the corona. These comets are also often referred to as sungrazing comets.
He discovered his first comet at the age of 13. Presently, he is pursuing a PhD in astronomy.
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As SOHO remains operational for many years, far exceeding its planned mission duration, and continues to provide valuable data for solar physics research, Karl Battams of NASA stated, “Soho is already the most prolific comet-hunting spacecraft in history, and it’s not slowing down. That’s thanks to the hard work of Sungrazer Project comet hunters around the world.”
Throughout its mission, SOHO has provided information about its core and outer atmosphere. Notable achievements include the first-ever images of the Sun’s convection zone and sub-surface sunspots, as well as detailed measurements of rotation and temperature.
(With inputs from agencies)
