← ALL PROBES
DISTANCE FROM SUN1.0028 AU
DISTANCE FROM EARTH0.0113 AU
VELOCITY29.285 km/s
LIGHT TIME0 min
ACTIVE
UPDATED1h ago
1.0028
AU FROM SUN
DISTANCE
150,016,745 km
105,426
KM/H
VELOCITY
30 years, 251 days
MISSION DURATION
AND COUNTING
0
MINUTES LIGHT TIME
ONE-WAY SIGNAL DELAY
1,850
KG
LAUNCH MASS
1
TARGETS
Sun-Earth L1
SOHO is a observatory mission by ESA / NASA targeting Sun-Earth L1. Launched December 2, 1995. Currently 1.0028 AU from the Sun.
ABOUT SOHO
SOHO (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory) has been watching the Sun from the L1 Lagrange point since 1996, making it one of the longest-running space missions. A cornerstone of space weather monitoring, it has also enabled the discovery of over 4,000 comets, mostly by citizen scientists analyzing its coronagraph images.
KEY DISCOVERIES
- Sun-grazing comets (over 4,000 discovered)
- Solar wind acceleration mechanisms
- Sub-surface solar dynamics
- Real-time coronal mass ejection tracking
TECHNOLOGY & FIRSTS
- Longest-running solar observatory (30+ years)
- Primary source for space weather monitoring
- Discovered over 4,000 comets (citizen science)
SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS (12)
EIT (Extreme UV Imaging)
LASCO (Coronagraph)
MDI/HMI (Magnetograph)
UVCS (UV Coronagraph)
CDS (Coronal Diagnostic)
SUMER (UV Spectrometer)
CELIAS (Charge/Element analysis)
COSTEP (Particle analyzer)
ERNE (Energetic particle experiment)
GOLF (Global oscillations)
VIRGO (Irradiance monitor)
SWAN (Solar wind anisotropies)
SPACECRAFT SPECIFICATIONS
Launch Mass1,850 kg (4,079 lbs)
PowerSolar panels
Launch VehicleAtlas IIAS
Launch DateDecember 2, 1995
Arrival DateFebruary 14, 1996
ProgramStationkeeping at L1
MISSION TRAJECTORY
1
Sun-Earth L1
🚀 LAUNCH MISSION