NASA’s Solar Orbiter spacecraft has released breathtaking images of the Sun’s south pole, while its companion probe PUNCH has captured jaw-dropping footage of massive solar eruptions called coronal mass ejections. These events can disrupt satellites, radio communications, and create dazzling aurora displays.
PUNCH, a network of four tiny satellites in low Earth orbit, has produced high-resolution images of coronal mass ejections growing across the inner Solar System. The satellites’ instruments captured the details of these events in greater detail than ever before, allowing scientists to better understand space weather patterns.
The PUNCH mission aims to improve our ability to predict and prepare for space weather events. By tracking these phenomena in real-time, scientists hope to safeguard astronauts, satellites, and everyday technology from disruptions caused by solar flares and coronal mass ejections.
The probe’s cameras also captured images of familiar celestial sights like Venus, Jupiter, the Moon, and the Orion constellation. A special coronagraph instrument blocks out the Sun’s center, enabling scientists to focus on studying eruptions like coronal mass ejections.
With its two-year mission ahead, NASA expects PUNCH to continue providing valuable data that could revolutionize space weather forecasting. As Craig DeForest, lead scientist of the PUNCH mission, notes, “This is just the opening act… Once we’re in our final formation, we’ll be able to track space weather in 3D, giving us a full Solar System forecast.”
Source: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/nasa-punch-coronal-mass-ejection-june-2025