Close Menu
WTX News
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • At least 31 dead as earthquake strikes Philippines
    • Chelsea’s Maresca: No concern despite 3rd red card in 4 games
    • Trump gives Hamas peace deal deadline as key allies including Qatar urge it to accept
    • Lionel Richie makes shocking claim about Michael Jackson’s hygiene
    • Man charged with murder of his parents and brother after their bodies found at family home
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    WTX News
    • Live News
      • US News
      • EU News
      • UK News
      • Politics
      • COVID-19
      • Business
      • Tech zone
    • World news
      • Middle East News
        • UAE News
        • Palestine News
      • Europe
        • Italian News
        • Spanish News
      • Africa news
      • South America
      • North America
      • Asia
    • News Briefings
      • UK News Briefing
      • World News Briefing
      • Live Business News
    • Sports
      • Football News
      • Tennis
      • Women’s Football
    • MY World
      • Climate Change
      • In Review
      • Expose
      • Special Reports
        • Conscience Convoy
        • Rohingya Report
    • Entertainment
      • Insta Talk
      • Royal Family
      • Gaming News
      • TV Shows
      • Streaming
    • Lifestyle
      • Fitness
      • Fashion
      • Cooking recipes
      • Luxury
      • Money Saving Expert
    • Travel
      • Culture
      • Holidays
    • Sign Up
      • Log In
    WTX News
    • Live News
    • World news
    • News Briefings
    • Sports
    • MY World
    • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
    • Sign Up
    Home - Space and Science - World-first views of the Sun’s poles released but scientists say best is yet to come

    World-first views of the Sun’s poles released but scientists say best is yet to come

    World-first views of the Sun’s poles released but scientists say best is yet to come

    World-first views of the Sun’s poles released but scientists say best is yet to come

    • WTX News Editor
    • June 11, 2025
    • 11:45 pm
    • No Comments

    Cliff Notes – World-first views of the Sun’s poles released

    • The Solar Orbiter has provided humanity’s first images of the sun’s poles, marking a significant advancement in solar observation, unlike the previous Ulysses mission.
    • With its unique tilted orbit, the Solar Orbiter can capture the sun from unprecedented angles, promising more detailed insights in future observations.
    • As the sun approaches its “solar maximum,” the spacecraft will study heightened solar activity, continuing its mission until 2026, with a flyby of Venus planned for 2029.

    World-first views of the Sun’s poles released – but scientists say best is yet to come | Science, Climate & Tech News

    It is only the second craft to have passed over the sun’s poles – with the ESA and NASA’s 1990-2009 Ulysses craft lacking the capacity to take any photos.

    “Today we reveal humankind’s first-ever views of the sun’s pole,” ESA’s director of science, Professor Carole Mundell, said.

    Describing it as a “new era of solar science”, she added: “The sun is our nearest star, giver of life and potential disruptor of modern space and ground power systems, so it is imperative that we understand how it works and learn to predict its behaviour.”

    The spacecraft appears as a grey box with an antennae sticking upwards and pointed diagonally outwards from the bottom corners and two solar panels protruding from each side. Behind it appears a raging yellow Sun

    ‘Best is yet to come’

    This is because Earth, the other planets, and all other operational spacecraft orbit the Sun within a flat disc around the Sun called the ecliptic plane.

    However, by tilting its orbit out of this plane, Solar Orbiter has revealed the star from a whole new angle – and because the spacecraft is set to tilt even further “the best views are yet to come”.

    The Solar Orbiter took off from Florida in 2020.

    Why Solar Orbiter is angling towards the Sun's poles
    Unlike Earth, which has fixed north and south poles, the sun’s equivalents flip on an 11-year cycle.

    This is because its equator spins faster than its poles – every 26 days compared to every 33 days – meaning it does not rotate as a solid object, instead becoming so unstable it eventually flips.

    The sun is currently at what is referred to as “solar maximum”, when the star is building up to the polar flip.

    The Solar Orbiter takes off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida in 2020

    During this period, its spots and solar flares are most active.

    In five or six years, the sun will reach its “solar minimum”, when its magnetic activity is at its lowest.

    The spacecraft will continue its orbit around the sun until Christmas Eve 2026. Its next flight will see it fly past Venus in 2029.

    Each colour represents a different element at a layer on the Sun. From Left to right: Hydrogen, Carbon, Oxygen, Neon and Magnesium - as World-first views of the Sun's poles are released.
    World-first views of the Sun’s poles

    The Solar Orbiter has provided humanity's first images of the sun's poles, marking a significant advancement in solar observation, unlike the previous Ulysses mission.
    Advertisment
    News Headlines
    At least 31 dead as earthquake strikes Philippines

    At least 31 dead as earthquake strikes Philippines

    Trump gives Hamas peace deal deadline as key allies including Qatar urge it to accept

    Trump gives Hamas peace deal deadline as key allies including Qatar urge it to accept

    Save 70% on VIP subscription
    News Briefings - the way to a better life
    News Briefings - the way to a better life
    Advert by Sponsors
    More from WTX News
    The latest gaming news - with game reviews and tips and tricks. updated 24 hours a day.
    The latest gaming news
    Hot off the press!
    • At least 31 dead as earthquake strikes Philippines October 1, 2025
    • Chelsea’s Maresca: No concern despite 3rd red card in 4 games October 1, 2025
    • Trump gives Hamas peace deal deadline as key allies including Qatar urge it to accept October 1, 2025
    • Lionel Richie makes shocking claim about Michael Jackson’s hygiene September 30, 2025
    • Man charged with murder of his parents and brother after their bodies found at family home September 30, 2025
    WTX News latest breaking news sports and travel
    Latest News and analysis - Deciphering through the BS with exclusive News Briefings
    Facebook X (Twitter) TikTok Instagram

    News

    • World News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • EU News
    • Business
    • Opinions
    • News Briefing
    • Live News

    Company

    • About WTX News
    • Register
    • Advertising
    • Work with us
    • Contact
    • Community
    • GDPR Policy
    • Privacy

    Services

    • Fitness for free
    • Insta Talk
    • How to guides
    • Climate Change
    • In Review
    • Expose
    • NEWS SUMMARY
    • Money Saving Expert

    News delivered to your inbox

    Copyright WTX News 2025

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.