NOAA Releases First Images from the World’s First Operational Space-Based Coronagraph.

 

NOAA has released the inaugural images from the Compact Coronagraph (CCOR-1), the world’s first operational, space-based coronagraph, aboard the newly launched GOES-19 satellite. CCOR-1 began its observations of the sun’s corona—the faint outermost layer of the solar atmosphere—on September 19, 2024.

The primary function of CCOR-1 is to monitor the corona to predict coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which are significant expulsions of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun. These events can trigger geomagnetic storms on Earth, impacting satellites, navigation systems like GPS, aviation communications, and electric power grids. The stunning auroras seen in the night sky are a direct result of these storms interacting with Earth’s upper atmosphere.

CCOR-1 offers continuous coverage of the solar corona, capturing a new image every 15 minutes. It employs an occulting disk to obscure the bright sun, allowing scientists to observe the faint corona. The initial video showcases a well-defined CME emerging from the sun’s eastern limb, complete with bright streamers of solar plasma radiating outward at incredible speeds.

This mission marks the first in a series of NOAA coronagraphs, with plans for additional instruments to be placed along the sun-Earth line as part of NOAA’s Space Weather Follow-On and Space Weather Next initiatives.

Currently, GOES-19 is undergoing post-launch testing. It is expected to assume its operational role as NOAA’s GOES East satellite in spring 2025, at which point the Space Weather Prediction Center will utilize CCOR-1 observations to enhance forecasts and warnings related to space weather events.