Overview
- The peer-reviewed study, led by Lakshmi Pradeep Chitta and published January 21, 2026 in Astronomy & Astrophysics, analyzes a well-observed M7.7 event.
- Solar Orbiter captured the September 30, 2024 eruption from about 45 million kilometers using EUI, SPICE, STIX, and PHI at roughly two-second cadence and ~210-kilometer spatial detail.
- Small magnetic reconnection sites ignited in sequence about 40 minutes before the peak, cascading into a larger eruption that climaxed near 23:47 UTC.
- The flare accelerated particles to roughly 40–50% of light speed and produced band-like plasma rain, documented at this resolution for the first time.
- Researchers say the observations challenge aspects of energy-release theory and highlight the need for further events and higher-resolution X-ray data to strengthen models and refine space-weather forecasting.