We didn’t know what exactly to expect from these first observations — the Sun’s poles are literally terra incognita,” said Sami Solanki of the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, reflecting the wonder which has swept through the community of solar physics in recent days.

ESA has just released the first-ever images taken of the Sun's south pole, as seen this year by the Solar Orbiter spacecraft.

Solar Orbiter captures first-ever images of the Sun’s poles, offering insights into solar magnetism, atmospheric motion, and the solar wind.