The Vacuum Tower Telescope (VTT) in Tenerife has achieved a breakthrough in solar observation, capturing the highest resolution images of the Sun's surface to date. This was made possible by a new camera system developed by the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP).
The advanced system employs sophisticated image reconstruction methods to reveal intricate structures within active regions of the Sun. By combining 100 short-exposure images, the system creates a single, highly detailed 8K resolution image. This allows scientists to study dynamic processes occurring on the Sun at timescales as short as 20 seconds.
These images cover areas approximately 1/7th of the Sun's diameter, enabling the observation of large-scale phenomena such as plasma streams and sunspot groups. Using specialized filters, researchers can pinpoint areas of heightened activity and trace the flow of plasma within two distinct layers of the solar atmosphere. This new capability promises to significantly advance our understanding of solar dynamics and space weather.