NSF scientists develop method to map magnetic polarity on Sun's far side
Updated
Updated · Newswise · Apr 25
NSF scientists develop method to map magnetic polarity on Sun's far side
7 articles · Updated · Newswise · Apr 25
A team led by the U.S. National Science Foundation National Solar Observatory used NSF-NOAA GONG helioseismic data to estimate magnetic polarity and tilt angle in hidden solar regions.
This breakthrough enables construction of polarity-resolved magnetograms for the Sun's far side, improving global magnetic field models and enhancing forecasts of potentially hazardous solar activity.
A more complete magnetic map could provide earlier warnings of solar storms that threaten satellites, astronauts, and communications, marking a major advance in space weather prediction and solar physics research.
Can this solar 'ultrasound' method finally create a complete 3D magnetic map of our sun?
With the Sun's far side now magnetically mapped, are we safe from surprise solar storms?
After recent major flares, how soon will this discovery improve our geomagnetic storm alerts?
Is predicting solar storms a better strategy than building more resilient technology on Earth?
How does listening to the sun's interior compare to seeing it with space probes?
Could the same sound-wave technique be used to probe the hidden interiors of other stars?
First Polarity-Resolved Magnetic Maps of the Sun’s Far Side Enable Two-Week Advance Space Weather Warnings
Overview
In April 2026, the NSF's National Solar Observatory unveiled the first-ever magnetic polarity-resolved maps of the Sun's far side, overcoming a decades-old challenge. This breakthrough relies on detecting subtle phase shifts in sound waves traveling across the Sun, processed through helioseismic holography and enhanced by the FASTARR machine learning model. By applying Hale's polarity law, scientists can now infer the magnetic polarity of hidden active regions weeks before they face Earth. Validated by direct Solar Orbiter observations and enabled by global collaboration and continuous data from the GONG network, these maps provide earlier, more accurate space weather forecasts, helping protect satellites, astronauts, and power grids from solar storms.