HINODE

Hinode formerly known as Solar-B is an international mission to study our nearest star, the sun. The mission was launched by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Solar mission with United States and United Kingdom collaboration.

The main aim of the mission is to explore the magnetic fields of the sun. To accomplish this, the Hinode mission includes a suite of three science instruments — the Solar Optical Telescope, X-ray Telescope and Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer.

Note:

Magnetism plays a critical role in various solar phenomena such as flares, mass ejections, flux ropes, and coronal heating. Sunspots are areas of concentrated magnetic fields.