~ The mysterious regions of space that have their own rules ~

~ L1 & SOHO ~

When we begin to discover the universe and the enormous forces that govern it, we find mysterious regions that seem to have their own rules. What makes them unique and allows us to study different phenomena from a privileged position.

Lagrange points.

Image Source Nasa

Joseph-Louis de Lagrange (1736-1813) was the discoverer of these regions of space.

Let's do a bit of history about this character ahead of his time and who became the best mathematician of his time.

He was born in Turin (Italy 🇮🇹 ) and until the age of seventeen showed no special aptitude for mathematics.
However, the reading of a work by the English astronomer Edmund Halley aroused his interest, and after a year of incessant work he was already an accomplished mathematician.
As you have probably noticed, E. Halley is the astronomer who gives name to the famous Halley's Comet.
In his work Miscellanea taurinensia, written in those years, he obtained, among other results, a general differential equation of motion and its adaptation for the particular case of rectilinear motion, and the solution to many problems of dynamics by calculating variants. He also wrote numerous articles on integral calculus and general differential equations of motion of three bodies subjected to forces of mutual attraction.
Lagrange worked in Berlin (Germany 🇩🇪) for twenty years in which he made transcendental advances in different branches of mathematics. Development of Lagrangian mathematics.
But it was not until 1772 that he tried to solve the problem of the three bodies when he discovered the Lagrange points. That as you can see in the image of NASA are five. Named L1, L2, L3, L4, L5.

But today our protagonist is L1.

Image Source ESA

In this small region of space that despite having an orbit closer to the sun the objects that are in it do not increase its speed as we might suppose, but move at the same orbital speed as the Earth. The gravitational attraction effect of the Earth pulls the objects that are in L1 and acts as a brake.

Thanks to the conditions that are given in L1 makes it a perfect location to study the sun.

And as we have seen in other projects, NASA and ESA collaborate to make possible the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO). Its launch was in 1995 and still continues contributing important data collected by the great amount of instruments with which it is equipped.

Among which are.

EIT (Extreme ultraviolet Imaging Telescope)

Image Source Soho

The EIT gives us images at many wavelengths. This allows us to see materials at different temperatures within the solar atmosphere.

Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI)

Image Source Soho

Doppler measures the velocity and magnetic field of the photosphere. It also measures the magnetic fields that control the structure of the solar corona.

Let's say that this instrument allows us to see below.

Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO)

Image Source SOHO LASCO C2

Image Source SOHO LASCO C3

Lasco studies the structure and evolution of the solar crown by creating a false solar eclipse. With two chronographs that hide one more(C3) and one less (C2) surface of the solar corona.

In addition to these visually stunning instruments ..

Three instruments Study the ionic and electronic composition of the solar wind.

COSTEP ~Suprathermal and Energetic Particle Analyser.
ERNE ~Energetic Particle Analyser
CELIAS ~ Charge, Element, Isotope Analysis

Other instruments on board of the satellite ..

SWAN ~ observes interplanetary
Lyman alpha radiation from all directions of the sky.
SUMER ~ Solar UV Measurement of Emitted Radiation.
CDS ~ Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer
GOLF ~ Global Oscillations at Low Frequency.
VIRGO ~ Variability of Solar Irradiance.
UVCS ~ UV Coronagraph and Spectrometer

Twenty-two years after its launch, it continues to send valuable information.

All this is possible thanks to that small region of space that has such special features.

Let's take care of the pale blue dot

References & Image Sources

ESA
http://m.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/What_are_Lagrange_points

SOHO
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/soho/the-sun-daily/index.html

Lagrange Biografy Pdf
https://www.google.es/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://docentes.educacion.navarra.es/mpastorg/cd_alumno/modeloG/1bach_CSS/Datos/biografias/15.pdf&ved=0ahUKEwjVpoWjwJPXAhWLWRQKHUQTAUAQFgh1MAk&usg=AOvVaw0VvYix5hh8R1I-KJCzqnGS

Enjoy your day. Enjoy your life.