Goldhelox: a soft x-ray solar telescope

Area of Science:

• Solar Physics
• Space Science
• Astrophysics

Background:

• The Goldhelox Project involves undergraduate students constructing a robotic solar telescope.
• The telescope is designed for near-normal incidence soft x-ray imaging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To image the sun at 171-181Å to study highly ionized coronal iron lines.
• To understand the early stages of solar flares and coronal-chromosphere transition region physics.

Main Methods:

• A robotic soft x-ray telescope will be deployed from a Space Shuttle Get-Away-Special (GAS) canister.
• The instrument will achieve 1-second time resolution and 2.5 arcsecond spatial resolution.
• The observational bandpass is optimized for imaging specific coronal emission lines.

Main Results:

• Data will aid in understanding solar flare initiation.
• The project will provide insights into the physics of the corona-chromosphere transition region.
• This endeavor highlights unique undergraduate involvement in space mission development.

Conclusions:

• The Goldhelox Project offers a unique undergraduate research experience in solar physics.
• The telescope's data will contribute to understanding solar flare dynamics.
• The project is scheduled for a 1995 or 1996 Space Shuttle mission.