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Solar Orbiter tracks origin of mysterious magnetic switchbacks

Solar Orbiter tracks origin of mysterious magnetic switchbacks
Phys.org Thursday 08 October 2026, 09:00 UTC 1 min read
Key Points

The European Space Agency–led Solar Orbiter spacecraft has flown through an S-shaped kink known as a "switchback" in the solar wind's magnetic field. By fingerprinting the elusive particles within the switchback, Solar Orbiter has traced its origin back to the sun's surface and revealed more about solar magnetism—the unruly instigator of dangerous solar storms.

The European Space Agency–led Solar Orbiter spacecraft has flown through an S-shaped kink known as a "switchback" in the solar wind's magnetic field. By fingerprinting the elusive particles within the switchback, Solar Orbiter has traced its origin back to the sun's surface and revealed more about solar magnetism—the unruly instigator of dangerous solar storms.
The European Space Agency (ORG)
Originally published by Phys.org Read original →

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