NASA Facts: Hinode

Solar flares are sudden releases of energy on the solar surface lasting several minutes to a few hours. They occur when magnetic fields on the sun's surface get tangled and 'reconnect,' causing nearby plasma to become superheated.

Artist concept of space weather showing an active Sun with flares and a CME in the upper right, the Earth in the lower right with types of technology affected by space weather to the lower left; satellites, airplanes, the ISS and ground-based electrical lines.
Heliophysics

Studying the Sun-Earth connection.

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Latest News and Features

Coronagraph image taken by SOHO shows an approaching comet.

Sungrazing Comets as Solar Probes

On Dec. 15, 2011, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured footage of Comet Lovejoy approaching the sun. The images and data collected by NASA's ...

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The Nov. 13, 2012 solar eclipse as seen by Hinode - second pass, partial eclipse.

Hinode Views Two Solar Eclipses

The orbit of Hinode resulted in two eclipses on Nov. 13, 2012, near the time that a total eclipse was visible in Australia.

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To support ground observations of the solar eclipse on Nov. 13, 2012, Hinode will capture images of the full sun from space for comparison.

Hinode to Support Ground-based Eclipse Observations

On Nov. 13, 2012, parts of Earth will experience a total solar eclipse. The JAXA NASA Hinode mission will coordinate its observations with those from ...

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Image Gallery

Hinode Latest News

  • Hinode to Support Ground-based Eclipse Observations

    11.13.12 - On Nov. 13, 2012, parts of Earth will experience a total solar eclipse. The JAXA NASA Hinode mission will coordinate its observations with those from the ground, to produce combined, scientifically interesting data.

  • Savage Named Deputy Project Scientist for Hinode

    10.04.12 - Sabrina Savage, a research astrophysicist, has been named deputy project scientist for Hinode, the joint U.S.-Japanese mission to study the sun.

  • NASA's Solar Fleet Peers Into Coronal Cavities

    09.20.12 - By understanding the morphology, density and temperature of coronal cavities scientists can better understand eruptions on the sun and the space weather that can disrupt technologies near Earth.

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Overview: Hinode - Mission to the Sun

    Hinode is an international mission to study our nearest star, the sun. To accomplish this, the Hinode mission includes a suite of three science instruments -- the Solar Optical Telescope, X-ray Telescope and Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer.

    Together, these instruments will study the generation, transport, and dissipation of magnetic energy from the photosphere to the corona and will record how energy stored in the sun's magnetic field is released, either gradually or violently, as the field rises into the sun’s outer atmosphere. > Read more

Video Vault

Hinode Views Sun's Eclipse

Hinode views eclipse in July of 2009.
07.23.09
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Hidden Boundaries of Sunspots

Hinode image
09.29.08
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Simulation: Sun's Atmosphere

A computer simulation of the sun's atmosphere
12.06.07
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Related Multimedia

The Story of Hinode (Solar-B)

Hinode artist concept
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Hinode in Orbit

Artist concept of Hinode in orbit
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Coronal Mass Ejection

Coronal mass ejection
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Related Links

    Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
    Learn more about JAXA's involvement with Hinode.
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    Lockheed Martin Solar and Astrophysics Laboratory (LMSAL)
    Learn more about the Solar & Astrophysics Laboratory.
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    X-Ray Telescope (XRT)
    Learn more about the X-Ray Telescope (X-Ray XRT).
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    Hinode - Solar Math
    Learn more about Hinode and Solar Math.
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    Solar Dynamics Observatory
    Learn more about the Solar Dynamics Observatory.
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    Virtual Solar Observatory
    Learn more about the Virtual Solar Observatory.
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    National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ)
    Learn more about the Hinode project office at NAOJ.
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    Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
    Learn more about JAXA's involvement with Hinode.
    › View Site

    Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory (STEREO)
    STEREO Readies for Sun Imaging Mission.
    › View Site


    Members of the media, please contact:

    Marshall Space Flight Ctr.
    Janet Anderson
    (256) 544-0034

    Goddard Space Flight Center
    Susan Hendrix
    301-286-7745
    Susan.M.Hendrix@nasa.gov

    NASA Headquarters
    Steve Cole
    202-358-0918
    stephen.e.cole@nasa.gov



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