NASA’s PUNCH Mission Unveils 3D Solar Wind ‘Rainbow’ Maps

Low Earth Orbit: NASA’s PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) mission started sending back breathtaking polarized images of the Sun’s corona and surrounding solar wind. Dubbed “rainbow” maps, they layer red, green, and blue to represent different polarization angles, showcasing the flowing particles between Earth and the Sun. This 3D vantage enables scientists to dissect solar wind structures and better predict events like coronal mass ejections that can disrupt satellites and power grids. Early results from the four-satellite constellation show remarkable detail, even capturing the Moon passing across the Sun in a ghostly silhouette. NASA says PUNCH’s data will be invaluable for refining space weather alerts.