Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope captures record‑resolution images of Sun’s surface

Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope Kelvin‑Helmholtz instability high‑resolution solar imaging space weather Nature publication

The Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope on Maui, Hawaii recorded the highest‑resolution image of the Sun’s photosphere ever captured, achieving a spatial resolution of about 19 km. The data, taken on 14 April 2025 while observing a magnetically active region near a sunspot, revealed for the first time direct Kelvin‑Helmholtz instabilities on a star’s surface. The vortex structures span roughly 20–65 km (up to 170 km in some cases) and are thought to drive magnetic‑energy buildup that powers solar flares and coronal‑mass ejections. The research team, including David Kuridze, Friedrich Wöger and David Boboltz of the U.S. National Solar Observatory, published the findings in Nature on 5 August 2026. The discovery highlights a mechanism that can affect space‑weather phenomena, with potential impacts on satellites, power grids and communications on Earth.

Entities

Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope · Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope · David Boboltz · David Kuridze · Friedrich Wöger · Haleakalā volcano · Kelvin‑Helmholtz instability · National Solar Observatory · Nature (journal) · Ruizhu Chen · Sun

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 8 SOURCES] The findings were published in the journal Nature. argjiroja.net · koha.mk · www.vizionplus.tv · www.theguardian.com · www.standard-democrat.com · +3 more
[● 3 SOURCES] The Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope captured images of the Sun's surface at a spatial resolution revealing features as small as 20 km. www.theguardian.com · www.standard-democrat.com · ca.news.yahoo.com
[● 5 SOURCES] The images were originally taken to test the telescope’s limits, not for a specific solar study. www.standard-democrat.com · ca.news.yahoo.com · www1.folha.uol.com.br · elineanoticias.com · www.theguardian.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Coronal mass ejections from the Sun can disrupt power grids, satellites, GPS and global communications. www.theguardian.com · www.standard-democrat.com · ca.news.yahoo.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The images show swirling vortex‑like structures identified as Kelvin‑Helmholtz instabilities on the Sun's surface. www.theguardian.com · www.standard-democrat.com · ca.news.yahoo.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Kelvin‑Helmholtz instabilities have been observed on Earth, Jupiter and Saturn but not previously on the Sun. www.theguardian.com · www.standard-democrat.com · ca.news.yahoo.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope is the world’s most powerful solar telescope. www.theguardian.com
[● 29 SOURCES] The images revealed small vortex structures identified as Kelvin‑Helmholtz instability on the solar surface. www.diariodemallorca.es · www.eldia.es · www.laopinioncoruna.es · www.levante-emv.com · elpais.com · +24 more
[● 16 SOURCES] The study was published in the journal Nature. www.diariodemallorca.es · www.eldia.es · www.laopinioncoruna.es · www.levante-emv.com · elpais.com · +11 more
[● 16 SOURCES] The images revealed plasma vortices 50–65 km in size identified as Kelvin‑Helmholtz instabilities on the solar surface. www.diariodemallorca.es · www.eldia.es · www.laopinioncoruna.es · www.levante-emv.com · elpais.com · +11 more
[● 29 SOURCES] The observations were made using the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope located on Haleakalā volcano in Maui, Hawaii. www.diariodemallorca.es · www.eldia.es · www.laopinioncoruna.es · www.levante-emv.com · elpais.com · +24 more
[● 29 SOURCES] The research team includes David Kuridze and Friedrich Wöger of the National Solar Observatory. www.diariodemallorca.es · www.eldia.es · www.laopinioncoruna.es · www.levante-emv.com · elpais.com · +24 more