Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope captures image of sunspots
The most powerful solar telescope in the world, the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope in Hawaii, captured a detailed image of a cluster of sunspots using its Visible Tunable Filter (VTF). Scientists hope it will help predict solar storms. The telescope is not fully operational yet, but the image it captured during testing shows its potential. Sunspots are areas of intense magnetic activity that can trigger solar flares and coronal mass ejections with damaging effects on Earth.
Key Points
- VTF captured image of sunspots on the sun's surface
- Sunspots are areas of intense magnetic activity
- Telescope's potential to predict solar storms
Pros
- Potential to predict powerful solar storms
- Technological achievement in solar physics
Cons
- Years of protests against placement on sacred land