Earth-Orbiting Telescope Sees Far Side of Sun for the First Time
Feb. 14, 2017 - How can a telescope orbiting Earth detect light emitted from the far side of the sun? NASA scientists tried to figure out the answer after the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope recorded gamma rays, the highest-energy form of light, originating from solar flares on the far side of the sun on three separate occasions. NASA's Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) spacecraft captured images of each event from the far side, allowing scientists to connect these "beyond-the-limb" solar flares with observations from Fermi. Studying the sun may help scientists predict solar flares, which, when aimed at Earth, can cause both beautiful auroras and communications system disruptions.
Video footage and animations courtesy NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
