World’s Most Powerful Solar Telescope Captures Stunning Mini Loops on the Sun

The Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope in Hawaii has captured the smallest magnetic loops ever seen in the sun’s corona, some as thin as just 21 kilometres wide. 

Scientists believe these miniature loops could be a key piece of the puzzle in understanding how powerful solar flares are generated.

“This is a landmark moment in solar science,” said Cole Tamburri of the University of Colorado, Boulder. “We’re finally seeing the sun at the scale it really works on.”

The loops were imaged in the aftermath of a massive X-class solar flare on August 8, 2024. 

For the first time, researchers could directly observe hundreds of fine strands in incredible detail, thanks to Inouye’s resolution, which is more than twice as sharp as any other solar telescope.

While scientists are still studying how these tiny loops influence magnetic reconnection and solar flare activity, their discovery could reshape our understanding of the sun’s magnetic engine.

However, the telescope’s future is uncertain. Proposed US budget cuts could slash its funding from $30 million to just $13 million in 2026, a move experts warn could force it to close, and risk losing vital solar research capabilities.

Tamburri and his team detailed their findings in The Astrophysical Journal Letters on August 25.