This was
your sky.

Launch of the Solar Orbiter

To understand how the Sun's activity affects Earth, the European Space Agency and NASA launched the Solar Orbiter. This robotic spacecraft will orbit the Sun, monitoring its light, solar wind, and magnetic field. It will observe the Sun from perspectives above and below the ecliptic plane, in addition to the usual Earth-based view. This long-exposure image shows the graceful arc of the Atlas V rocket as it launched the Solar Orbiter.