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Heliophysics Science Division
Operational

Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS)

Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) fills a crucial gap in NASA's ability to advance Sun-Earth connection studies.

Launch Date
May 2013
Class
Flight Project
Websites
Key Staff
  • Project Scientist

Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) fills a crucial gap in our ability to advance Sun-Earth connection studies by tracing the flow of energy and plasma into the corona and heliosphere for which no suitable observations exist. IRIS obtains high, resolution UV spectra and images of the sun's chromosphere, specifically on the non-thermal energy that creates the Corona and the Solar Wind; i.e., Space Weather. IRIS is a Principal Investigator (PI) led Small Explorer Mission; PI is Alan Title located at Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center, Solar and Astrophysics Laboratory.

Related Publications

2026. "A new method of deriving Doppler velocities for Solar Orbiter SPICE.", Astronomy & Astrophysics, 706 A171 [10.1051/0004-6361/202555756] [Journal Article/Letter]

2024. "Center-to-limb Variations in Solar Plage Using IRIS Observations.", The Astrophysical Journal, 977 (2): 141 [10.3847/1538-4357/ad901d] [Journal Article/Letter]

2025. "Probing Progression of Heating Through the Lower Flare Atmosphere via High-cadence IRIS Spectroscopy.", The Astrophysical Journal, 986 (1): 73 [10.3847/1538-4357/adccc8] [Journal Article/Letter]

2024. "Solar Flare Ribbon Fronts. II. Evolution of Heating Rates in Individual Flare Footpoints.", The Astrophysical Journal, 970 (1): 21 [10.3847/1538-4357/ad47e1] [Journal Article/Letter]

2024. "An optically thin view of the flaring chromosphere: non-thermal widths in a chromospheric condensation during an X-class solar flare.", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 527 (2): 2523-2548 [10.1093/mnras/stad3135] [Journal Article/Letter]