Astronomers Detect Magnetic Threads Above the Sun

Astronomers detected fine, thread-like magnetic structures in the chromosphere above a quiet region of the Sun using the Sunrise-III solar observatory. The findings were published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters on 24 October 2026 by an international research team led by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ).

Solar Atmosphere and Magnetic Canopy

The solar atmosphere has three principal layers: the photosphere, chromosphere and corona. The photosphere is the visible surface of the Sun, while the chromosphere lies above it. A magnetic canopy forms when magnetic fields concentrated in the photosphere spread outwards and arch into the chromosphere. Sunrise-III observations identified narrow magnetic features within this canopy, rather than a uniformly expanding field structure.

Quiet-Sun regions lack prominent features such as sunspots and cover much of the solar surface. Their magnetic fields are generally weaker than those in active regions, making fine-scale structures difficult to measure. The observations found thread-like structures in one such region.

Sunrise-III and SCIP

Sunrise-III is an international solar research project built around a one-metre telescope carried by a high-altitude balloon. During its 2024 mission, the observatory reached approximately 35 kilometres above Earth in the stratosphere, where atmospheric interference is reduced compared with ground-based observations.

One of its instruments, SCIP (Sunrise Chromospheric Infrared spectroPolarimeter), was developed under NAOJ leadership. This near-infrared instrument measures magnetic fields across different layers of the solar atmosphere, including the photosphere and chromosphere. Its observations enabled researchers to examine magnetic fields at different heights.

Magnetic Structures and Solar Jets

Computer simulations reproduced patterns recorded by Sunrise-III and indicated that twisting motions at the solar surface can shape magnetic field lines into thread-like structures higher in the atmosphere. These measurements relate to the transfer of energy upwards through the solar atmosphere, where energy contributes to atmospheric heating.

The observatory also measured magnetic fields in spicules near the solar limb. Spicules are narrow jets of solar material that extend upwards from the Sun’s visible edge. The measurements mapped changes in their magnetic fields with height.

Important Facts for Exams

• The chromosphere lies above the photosphere and below the corona.
• The photosphere is the visible surface of the Sun.
• Spicules are narrow jets of solar material extending upwards from the Sun’s visible edge.
• Sunrise-III carried a one-metre telescope on a high-altitude balloon during its 2024 mission.

The Sunrise-III findings appeared in The Astrophysical Journal Letters on 24 October 2026. The research examined magnetic structures in the quiet-Sun chromosphere and magnetic fields in spicules.