back to article Optical filters head to Germany for Solar Orbiter build

The European Solar Orbiter project has taken another step towards launch-readiness, with Australia's CSIRO delivering the last of the optical filters that the orbiter needs to image the sun. The spacecraft is due to launch in 2017, and will adopt an orbital distance similar to that of Mercury, which is closer than other …

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  1. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

    Hope they didn't

    Send it with DHL

    (i'm still missing a xmas prezzy)

  2. John Smith 19 Gold badge
    Thumb Up

    Using Iron vapour to read the magentic state *optically*

    Neat.

    CSIRO is not to be underestimated.

    1. G Mac

      Re: Using Iron vapour to read the magentic state *optically*

      Unless you are arse technica and label them as a clear patent troll since they 'don't produce anything themselves'.

  3. I ain't Spartacus Gold badge
    Happy

    OK, so the satellite's got it's sunglasses. Who's building the hat?

    1. James 51

      Don't forget teh sunscreen.

      1. cray74

        They won't need sunscreen if the mission is only conducted at night.

  4. hammarbtyp

    Spaceflight development money is rarely wasted

    Electronically tuneable filters. There has to be a applications for that on Earth.

    It's just goes to show how space science can drive technology advancement

    1. Swarthy

      Re: Spaceflight development money is rarely wasted

      I was just thinking, as I read the article, "I wonder how much Carl Ziess will pay for these new techs."

      Have an up-vote.

  5. johnnymotel

    So, not something I'll find down my local Jessops then?

    1. lglethal Silver badge

      Just give it a couple of years...

  6. The last doughnut

    Interesting, but

    helping in turn to predict the behaviour of solar winds and geomagnetic storms, which will feed into climate models

    What? I thought only carbon dioxide emissions could affect the climate.

    1. stizzleswick
      Boffin

      Re: Interesting, but

      Er... nope. Solar irradiation is a major factor for several reasons, including generation of atmospheric water vapour, which is a greenhouse gas. So is methane, which is about 20 times more efficient than CO2 as a greenhouse gas.

      Mind you, the quote from the article was not about global warming models, but about climate models. I.e., what they use to make long-term weather forecasts, among other things.

      1. PhilBuk

        Re: Interesting, but

        Whooosh...

  7. Neoc

    Don't understand

    "its nominal centre wavelength of 617.3433 nm (accurate to one thirtieth of a nanometre)"

    If the accuracy is 1/30th, why give us the wavelength down to 1/10000th?

    1. stizzleswick
      Boffin

      Re: Don't understand

      "If the accuracy is 1/30th, why give us the wavelength down to 1/10000th?"

      Simple. That is the nominal wavelength the filter was designed for. The accuracy is + or - one thirtieth nanometer. So, we have a theoretical value for what we're shooting at, and the accuracy is, as said, plus or minus one thirtieth nm. Meaning that while the design value is accurate down to 1/10000th, the actual value achieved may be anywhere near there within plus or minus those 1/30th nm.

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