Scientists have captured the clearest and highest-resolution images ever recorded of the Sun’s surface using the world’s most powerful solar telescope, revealing previously unseen details of the star’s complex magnetic activity.

Researchers used the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, operated by the U.S. National Science Foundation, to observe a massive sunspot in extraordinary detail.

According to scientists, sunspots are regions where the Sun’s magnetic fields are exceptionally strong, making them the source of powerful solar flares and other intense solar activity.

The newly released images and time-lapse footage reveal the Sun’s photosphere—its visible surface—with unprecedented clarity, showing intricate structures formed by superheated plasma and constantly shifting magnetic fields.

Researchers say the breakthrough will improve understanding of the Sun’s internal processes and help scientists make more accurate forecasts of solar storms and space weather that can affect satellites, power grids, communications, and other technology on Earth.