The Ministry of Science & Technology announced on 12 October 2026 that a collaborative study has investigated why the Sun's poles appear brighter at specific microwave and radio frequencies. Using nearly 30 years of data, researchers found that this brightening is strongly linked to the size of polar coronal holes and the strength of the Sun's polar magnetic field. The study also linked localized bright patches to small-scale magnetic loops and jet activity. The release does not say when these findings take effect as it is a scientific report.
Key points
- Study used nearly three decades of observations from the Nobeyama Radioheliograph at 17 GHz
- Found strong correlation between microwave brightening and polar magnetic-field strength
- Identified a relationship between brightening and the size of polar coronal holes
- Localized brightening linked to coronal bright points and coronal jets
- Findings published in the Astrophysical Journal
When it applies
The document does not state when it takes effect.
Who it affects
- solar polar atmosphere
Refers to
- Astrophysical Journal
- DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ae6b70