Incorporating the refractive index of the Sun into models of gravitational lensing effects improves agreement with measurements of the phenomenon.
the Sun
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Altitude Matters for Solar Eclipse Observations
The path of a solar eclipse through Earth’s ionosphere, which can be quite different than it is at ground level, appears to explain patterns of ionized particle depletions.
Posted inNews
Ghostly Particles from the Sun Confirm Nuclear Fusion
Using the Borexino particle detector—located deep underground in Italy—researchers spot elusive neutrinos from the Sun’s CNO cycle.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
How Accurate Are Our Measurements of the Sun’s Energy?
As instruments collecting solar data degrade, researchers must correct for errors. A new study compares several methods to correct solar spectral irradiance measurements.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
Using Earth’s Atmosphere as a Solar Flare Monitor
Measurements of very-low frequency radio signal phase and amplitude can detect upper atmosphere changes caused by solar flares, enabling us to monitor flare occurrence and intensity.
Posted inNews
Virtual Super Instrument Enhances Solar Spacecraft
The same algorithms that help control self-driving cars and speech-to-text functionality have helped build a virtual instrument to study the Sun.
Posted inEditors' Vox
Hearing the Sun Tock
The appearance of sunspots—their number, duration, and location—suggests that the dynamics of the Sun’s outer layer is synchronized with an internal clock.
Posted inNews
Million-Degree Experiment Complicates Solar Science
Experiments at Sun-like temperatures show that certain elements absorb more light than solar models predict, creating uncertainties for stellar science.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
Looking Away from the Sun: Improved Tracking of Solar Storms
A new tool for tracking coronal mass ejections away from the Sun opens a path toward more accurate warnings for operators who have to cope with adverse space weather.
Posted inNews
Solar Spike Suggests a More Active Sun
Radio waves are providing a new way to probe the Sun and suggest that the magnetic field of its corona may be stronger than long thought.