Getting Started with Solar Orbiter Data#

This page provides an overview of how to set up your Python environment and start working with Solar Orbiter data.

This documentation and the Example Gallery build upon existing tools in the SunPy ecosystem wherever possible, leveraging community-developed libraries for solar physics research.

Installing the Required Packages#

Before working with Solar Orbiter data, you need Python and a few key libraries. For a detailed guide, including how to install Python, see the SunPy Installation Guide.

For a quick setup, you can install the core dependencies using pip:

pip install sunpy[all] sunpy_soar

Or, if you’re using conda, install them via:

conda install -c conda-forge sunpy sunpy-soar

These packages provide:

  • sunpy: Core tools for solar data analysis.

  • sunpy_soar: SunPy plug-in interface for accessing the Solar Orbiter Archive (SOAR) using Fido.

Verifying Your Installation#

To ensure everything is set up correctly, you can run:

import sunpy
import sunpy_soar

print("SunPy version:", sunpy.__version__)

If this runs without errors, you’re ready to start working with Solar Orbiter data!

—

First Example: Searching for Solar Orbiter Data#

Now, let’s search for Solar Orbiter EUI data from the SOAR archive:

from sunpy.net import Fido, attrs as a
import sunpy_soar

# Search for EUI data within a specific time range
result = Fido.search(a.Time("2021-02-01 00:00", "2021-02-01 04:00"),
                     a.Instrument.eui,
                     a.Level(2))

# Display the available data products
print(result)

This query searches for Level 2 EUI (Extreme Ultraviolet Imager) data from the Solar Orbiter Archive.

Next Steps#

Once your setup is complete, check out the following resources: