Inouye Solar Telescope Captures Highest-Resolution Solar Flare Images

On August 8, 2024, the U.S. National Science Foundation's Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope captured the highest-resolution images ever of an X1.3-class solar flare, revealing the smallest coronal loops on the Sun to date, some as thin as 21 kilometers. These coronal loops, which trace the Sun's magnetic field lines and often precede solar flares, were observed at the H-alpha wavelength of 656.28 nm, allowing unprecedented clarity during the flare's decay phase. This breakthrough provides new insights into the fundamental scale of solar corona and advances flare modeling, with implications for improving space weather forecasting and understanding solar storms that can impact Earth's infrastructure. Lead author Cole Tamburri, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Colorado Boulder, highlighted that this was the first time the Inouye Solar Telescope observed an X-class flare under ideal conditions, showcasing the telescope's unparalleled imaging capabilities. The discovery marks a significant leap in solar science, enabled by the telescope’s Visible Broadband Imager, which offers resolutions over two and a half times sharper than previous instruments. These findings, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, are expected to enhance our comprehension of solar magnetic dynamics and improve predictions of solar storm effects on Earth.