BackForwardInstrument:  SoloHI 

Instrument details
Acronym SoloHI
Full name Solar Orbiter Heliospheric Imager
Purpose To image both the quasi-steady flow and transient disturbances in the solar wind over a wide field of view by observing visible sunlight scattered by solar wind electrons. It provides unique measurements to pinpoint coronal mass ejections (CMEs)
Short description The telescope consists of a wide-angle lens (40°x 40°) possible to be exploited in a flexible way, The standard use is to produce synoptic images of the full field of view every 30 min. During perihelia SoloHI can obtain high cadence (~15 s) images of a subfield nearest the solar limb for solar wind turbulence studies while still providing synoptic images. The spectral range covers the interval 450-750 nm
Background New development
Scanning Technique Detectors array pointing the Sun from a solar orbit. Corona view included
Resolution Changing with the distance from the Sun. Best value: 1000 km at Sun surface
Coverage / Cycle Flexible coverage, function of the desired image frequency. 30 min for full FOV
Mass Power Data Rate

 

Providing Agency NRL
Instrument Maturity Flown on an R&D satellite
Utilization Period: 2020 to 2030
Last update: 2024-01-22
Detailed characteristics
Satellites this instrument is flying on

Note: a red tag indicates satellites no longer operational, a green tag indicates operational satellites, a blue tag indicates future satellites

Instrument classification
  • Solar and space environment monitors
  • Solar activity monitor
WIGOS Subcomponents
  • Subcomponent 2
  • Solar coronagraph and heliospheric imagery both on the Earth-Sun line and off the Earth-Sun line (e.g. L5 point)
  • Heliospheric imager [from solar orbit, ecliptic, L5]
Mission objectives
Primary mission objectives
  • Heliospheric image
  • Solar VIS flux
  • Solar VIS image
Evaluation of Measurements

The following list indicates which measurements can typically be retrieved from this category of instrument. To see a full Gap Analysis by Variable, click on the respective variable.

Note: table can be sorted by clicking on the column headers
Note: * Primary mission objective.
VariableRelevance for measuring this variableOperational limitationsExplanation
Solar VIS flux*3 - highNo specific limitation.Wide dynamic range, corona view included
Solar VIS image*3 - highNo specific limitation.Fluxmetry with high spatial resolution, corona view included
Solar white light image3 - highNo specific limitation.Fluxmetry with high spatial resolution, good coverage of the VIS range, corona view included
Solar coronagraphic image4 - fairNo specific limitation.VIS (400-700 nm)