British team helps create 360 degree sun image

By Ben Hurst on Feb 10, 11 11:34 AM

British scientists have played a key role in creating the first 360-degree images of the sun.

The pictures have been captured by Nasa's twin STEREO (Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory) spacecraft, which are orbiting on opposite sides of the Earth's nearest star.

Researchers at the Rutherford Appleton laboratory in Didcot, Oxfordshire, designed the cameras used to take the groundbreaking images.

Chris Davis, project manager for the STEREO mission at the Rutherford Appleton laboratory, said: "The UK is very good at creating innovative design solutions.

"That's why Nasa turned to us to make these cameras, which have already shown us some wonderful sights."

Below: Nasa handout photo of a 360-degree image of the sun captured by Nasa's twin STEREO (Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory) spacecraft.

The spacecraft that the cameras are mounted on are named Ahead and Behind and were launched in October 2006.

Together with Nasa's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) which has been in orbit around the Earth since February last year, they will help scientists understand the sun's 11-year activity cycle.

Professor Richard Harrison, principal investigator for the UK-designed instruments on STEREO, described the pictures as a "major milestone" in space science.

He said: "The sun is a truly complex object which influences many aspects of our lives.
"In the same way that you would not expect to understand the workings of the brain by studying just a small part of it, an investigation into the nature of our star as a complete object is essential."

Aside from hardware design, scientists at the Rutherford Appleton laboratory are also monitoring solar activity using imagers designed and built in the UK and mounted on the spacecraft.

The imagers were built by a team of scientists, mechanics, engineers and technicians working at the University of Birmingham.

They cost Â£2 million to design and make and were financed by the British Government.
David Willetts, Minister for Universities and Science, said: "I'm extremely proud that UK scientists have played a pivotal role in the research and development of this important imaging technology."