LASCO (Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph)

LASCO (Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph) is an instrument aboard the SOHO satellite designed to study the Sun's outer atmosphere, especially the corona. It works by creating an artificial eclipse, blocking out the Sun's bright light so scientists can observe the faint solar atmosphere and phenomena like solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). LASCO captures detailed images and spectra, helping scientists understand space weather and how solar activity affects Earth. Its observations are crucial for predicting potential disruptions caused by solar storms.