The Sun: New High Resolution Image | European Space Agency's Solar Orbiter

The Sun: New High Resolution Image | European Space Agency's Solar Orbiter

The High Resolution Imager (HRI) telescope of the Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (EUI) instrument on the European Space Agency's Solar Orbiter ordinarily observes a small sub-field of the Solar atmosphere. However, it can be pointed in a mosaic sequence to build up a large composite image of the entire Sun. This is the result. The full size image at 12544 x 12544 pixels, represents the highest resolution image of the Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) Sun ever taken, according to the European Space Agency (ESA).

The Solar Orbiter mission is a partnership between the European Space Agency and NASA, designed to observe the Sun and its inner heliosphere. The mission includes ten science instruments, all designed to provide unprecedented data about how our star operates. Solar Orbiter's unique position allows it to observe the Sun from within its perihelion, making it the first spacecraft to do so. Solar Orbiter was launched on February 10, 2020, and is planned to be operational until the end of 2026 with a potential extension until 2030. The spacecraft is equipped with a dedicated heat shield to protect it from the intense solar flux near perihelion (its closest approach to the Sun).

Learn more about ESA's Solar Obiter:
https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Solar_Orbiter

Image Credit: European Space Agency (ESA)
Release Date: Feb. 27, 2026

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