Tokyo City University Uses Artemis II Nikon Z9 Images to Map Sun’s F-Corona
Updated
Updated · PetaPixel · Jul 2
Tokyo City University Uses Artemis II Nikon Z9 Images to Map Sun’s F-Corona
1 articles · Updated · PetaPixel · Jul 2
Summary
A new Astrophysical Journal Letters paper used Artemis II eclipse photos from a Nikon Z9 to measure the Sun’s F-corona, extracting its shape, size and intensity from a lunar-flyby observation.
Nearly 1 hour of totality during the April 6, 2026 flyby gave researchers an unusually wide, space-based view of diffuse circumsolar light that is hard to capture from Earth because the atmosphere obscures zodiacal light measurements.
Background stars let the team calibrate the consumer camera despite its lack of full photometric setup, enabling what they called a proof of concept for detailed solar analysis from opportunistic crewed-mission imagery.
The results broadly matched prior observations but showed stronger emission toward the ecliptic plane and a more extended F-corona than the ZodiSURF model predicted.
The study argues that astronaut-flown consumer cameras can support future lunar-orbit coronal missions, turning Artemis II imagery into usable solar-science data as well as public-facing mission photography.
What's the next frontier for everyday technology in deep space exploration after this camera's success?
Could the F-corona's unexpected structure hold new clues about our solar system's formation?
How will this 'opportunistic science' success reshape the design of future lunar and Martian missions?
Artemis II Crew Captures F-Corona’s True Shape During Historic Lunar Eclipse, Forcing Model Revisions
Overview
The Artemis II mission in April 2026 created a rare, nearly hour-long total solar eclipse from space, allowing the Orion spacecraft crew to capture wide-field images of the Sun’s faint F-corona. This unique alignment, studied by Tokyo City University researchers, provided new insights into a phenomenon that is difficult to observe from Earth. The images revealed unexpected features in the F-corona’s shape, challenging existing models of interplanetary dust. This breakthrough demonstrates how astronaut-led space observations can advance our understanding of the solar system and highlights the value of future lunar-orbit missions for solar science.