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
LocationOrbits the Sun-Earth Lagrange point L1 1 MeasuresThe Sun's interior, visible surface, atmosphere and the solar wind 1 Operating PrincipleHeld 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 1 Connections
Associated With
Operated By
Source Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Source Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Sources
1. 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 SourceWikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationOperated By: European Space Agency, Solar and Heliospheric Observatory
Operator: ESA / NASA
Operated By: NASA, Solar and Heliospheric Observatory
Operator: ESA / NASA
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