Solar X-ray Imager

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Solar X-ray Imager (SXI) are full-disc X-ray instruments observing the Sun aboard GOES satellites. The SXI on GOES 12 was the first of its kind and allows the U.S. NOAA to better monitor and predict space weather.

Operation

The Solar X-ray Imager aboard the

satellite communications.[1] The Solar X-ray Imager was the first X-ray telescope to take a "full-disk" image of the Sun, providing forecasters with the ability to detect solar storms and real-time solar forecasting by the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC).[2]

Imagery

First Image from GOES 12 on 7 September 2001

The SXI aboard GOES 12 is a Wolter Type I (

radio communications and satellite communications systems.[2][3]

Failure and termination of the GOES 12 instrument

The XSI and XRS sensors on GOES 12 failed due to a problem with the electrical system which controls the north-south motion functionality of the instruments on April 12, 2007. The SXI and XRS currently have the ability to capture and record images. Due to limited field of view of the x-ray instrumentation, the XSI and XRS and been permanently deactivated.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ "GOES Solar X-ray Imager". NOAA/SWPC. Retrieved 2015-06-29.
  2. ^ a b "Environmental Satellite Readied to Detect Solar Storms". NASA/NOAA. 2003-01-30. Retrieved 2009-12-12.
  3. ^ a b "The GOES Solar X-ray Imager". NASA/Marshall Solar Physics. 2007-01-18. Retrieved 2009-12-12.
  4. ^ "GOES SXI Operational Status (2007-08-24)". Space Weather Prediction Center(SWPC). 2007-08-24. Retrieved 2009-12-12.