Solar Orbiter gives first close look at the Sun’s magnetic poles

The European Space Agency’s Solar Orbiter spacecraft has provided the first detailed observations of the Sun’s magnetic poles, a region previously difficult to study due to its position and the limitations of Earth-based and ecliptic-plane observations. By tilting its orbit about 17 degrees above the planetary plane in March 2024, Solar Orbiter enabled scientists to capture new data on plasma flows and magnetic field movements at the Sun’s south pole using its Polarimetric and Helioseismic Imager (PHI) and Extreme-Ultraviolet Imager (EUI). These observations revealed a detailed pattern of supergranulation—large plasma cells that push magnetic fields toward their edges—forming a magnetic network at the poles. Unexpectedly, the magnetic fields were found to drift toward the pole at speeds of 10 to 20 meters per second, nearly as fast as flows near the equator, contradicting earlier assumptions that magnetic motion slowed significantly near the poles. This discovery provides crucial insight into the Sun’s