SUNRISE III balloon telescope reveals magnetic structure of the quiet Sun
The SUNRISE III mission flew a 1-meter solar telescope on a helium balloon at about 35 km in 2024, measuring chromospheric magnetic fields. Three papers in Astrophysical Journal Letters describe narrow 725-km magnetic threads with 10–20 G fields and opposite-polarity intrusions explained by twisted flux ropes.
- 1-meter telescope lifted to about 35 km on a balloon above the atmosphere
- 725-km threads with 10–20 G magnetic fields found in the quiet Sun
- Field strength rises to about 40 G above the solar limb
- MURaM-ChE simulation confirmed twisted flux ropes 2000–7000 km long
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