Mauna Loa Solar Observatory (MLSO)
Mauna Loa Solar Observatory (MLSO) acquires unique observations of the Sun’s atmosphere to support NCAR’s goal to address critical gaps in understanding the Sun-Earth system and to provide observations to reduce damage and disruption from space weather hazards.
NEWS: MLSO returns to full power!
On Friday, 9/11, Mauna Loa Solar Observatory returned to full operational power on its newly installed solar panel array. The observatory had been under partial power from a temporary solar panel installation that enabled only the KCor white light coronagraph to operate. With the completion of the permanent full-power array, the UCoMP emission line coronagraph instrument will join KCor in daily operations. The array will also enable the new ChroMag full-disk imaging filtergraph to be installed at MLSO in early 2027. MLSO now becomes the only US observatory to operate solely on power provided by its astronomical object of study: the Sun.
MLSO CME Alert Service
MLSO’s K-Cor telescope detects and measures CMEs at least one hour before NOAA's space-based coronagraphs. Coronal images are produced and analyzed every 15 seconds, and email alerts are issued about 3 minutes after the eruption has been detected. Interim images and measurements of speed and radial distance are issued every 5 minutes and a summary email is issued once the CME leaves the K-Cor field of view.
If you would like to receive these prompt CME alert emails, send a request to mlso_data_requests@ucar.edu. The basic service includes the initial alert and the summary email. The 5-minute interim reports generate many emails and are not recommended except for operational nowcasting use.
Latest Images
GONG H-alpha
The Mauna Loa Observatory GONG station is offline until power is completely restored, so the most recent GONG image from an open station is shown here.
