Solar Orbiter images sun's poles for the first time

The Solar Orbiter has captured the first-ever images of the sun's poles, providing scientists with a new perspective on our star. This will help in understanding the sun's magnetic field and its 11-year activity cycle. The images, taken in March, show the sun's south pole from approximately 40 million miles away. The spacecraft used a flyby around Venus to achieve an off-ecliptic view, allowing it to observe the poles. Data from the north pole is still being transmitted. Launched in 2020, the Solar Orbiter is a joint project between the European Space Agency and NASA. The mission aims to study the solar wind and the sun's impact on Earth, potentially improving space weather forecasting.