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Solar and Heliospheric Observatory

Space-Based Observatories

A joint European Space Agency and NASA spacecraft launched in 1995 to a stable vantage point between the Sun and Earth, providing an uninterrupted view of the Sun for studying its interior structure, outer atmosphere and the solar wind it generates. Decades past its planned two-year mission, it remains a primary source of real-time solar imagery used for space weather forecasting.

Facts
Location
Orbits the Sun-Earth Lagrange point L1 2
Operational
from 1995 2
Measures
The Sun's interior, visible surface, atmosphere and the solar wind 2
Operating Principle
Held in an orbit at the L1 point where the Sun and Earth's gravity cancel, keeping it locked in line with both bodies for uninterrupted solar viewing 2
Open to Visitors
No 1
Classification
Observing Band
Ultraviolet 1
Connections

Associated With

Operated By

Source Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Additional Source Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (Wikipedia)Article text
Source Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Additional Source Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (Wikipedia)Article text
Sources
1. Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (Wikipedia)
  • Lead paragraph
    is a European Space Agency (ESA) spacecraft
  • Article text: band ultraviolet
    Extreme ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT)
  • Operated By: European Space Agency, Article text
    The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) is a European Space Agency (ESA) spacecraft built by a European industrial consortium led by Matra Marconi Space (now Airbus Defence and Space) that was launched on a Lockheed Martin Atlas IIAS launch vehicle on 2 December 1995, to study the Sun.
  • Operated By: NASA, Article text
    It is a joint project between the ESA and NASA.
  • In Group: Solar Space Observatories, Lead sentence
    The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) is a European Space Agency (ESA) spacecraft built by a European industrial consortium led by Matra Marconi Space (now Airbus Defence and Space) that was launched on a Lockheed Martin Atlas IIAS launch vehicle on 2 December 1995, to study the Sun.
View the Source
2. SOHO overview, ESA
  • Launch section
    SOHO's launch, 2 December 1995
  • Orbit section
    SOHO moves around the Sun on the sunward side of Earth, where it enjoys an uninterrupted view of the Sun, by slowly orbiting around Lagrange point L1.
  • Mission overview section
    SOHO's studies range from the Sun's interior, its visible surface and stormy atmosphere, to where the solar wind blows in distant regions of our Solar System.
  • Orbit mechanics section
    This a spot in space where the gravitational fields of the Sun and Earth cancel each other and keep SOHO in an orbit locked in line with the two bodies.
View the Source
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