Hinode (Solar-B) Solar Optical Telescope’s first-light

The Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) on-board JAXA’s Hinode (a solar mission with ESA participation), took the first test images on 25 October 2006. SOT is the first large optical telescope flown in space dedicated to observing the Sun.

The image shows in detail solar granulation (convection cells), and bright points between granules. The bright points represent locations of magnetic field concentration.

This image was taken with SOT’s broadband filter, and confirmed that the instrument is achieving very high spatial resolution of 0.2 arcseconds, a primary objective of the instrument. The test also confirmed We also have determined that the spectropolarimeter, SOT’s primary instrument for detailed measurements of the solar magnetic field, is exceeding its expected levels of performance.