Yohkoh facts for kids
Yohkoh (ようこう, meaning "sunbeam") was a special Japanese satellite. It was sent into space to orbit around Earth. This satellite was a big project by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, which is part of the University of Tokyo in Japan. They built and launched Yohkoh.
What Was Yohkoh?
Yohkoh was designed to be like a space detective for the sun. Its name, "sunbeam," perfectly described its mission. Scientists wanted to learn more about the sun's powerful activities. These activities can affect Earth.
Launching into Space
Yohkoh was launched into space on August 30, 1991. A powerful rocket carried it far above Earth. Once in orbit, Yohkoh began its important work. It circled our planet, always looking at the sun.
Studying the Sun
Yohkoh had special cameras and instruments. These tools could see different kinds of light from the sun. It studied solar flares, which are huge explosions on the sun's surface. It also looked at coronal mass ejections. These are giant bubbles of gas and magnetic fields. Learning about these events helps us understand space weather. Space weather can sometimes affect satellites and power grids on Earth.
The End of Its Journey
Yohkoh worked for many years, sending back valuable information. After a long and successful mission, the spacecraft's journey ended. On September 12, 2005, Yohkoh re-entered Earth's atmosphere. It burned up safely, like a shooting star.
See also
In Spanish: Yohkoh para niños
