The First Focused Hard X-ray Images of the Sun with NuSTAR

Understand

We present results from the the first campaign of dedicated solar observations undertaken by the \textit{Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope ARray} ({\em NuSTAR}) hard X-ray telescope.

• Designed as an astrophysics mission, {\em NuSTAR} nonetheless has the capability of directly imaging the Sun at hard X-ray energies ($>$3~keV) with an increase in sensitivity of at least two magnitude compared to current non-focusing telescopes.
• In this paper we describe the scientific areas where \textit{NuSTAR} will make major improvements on existing solar measurements.
• We report on the techniques used to observe the Sun with \textit{NuSTAR}, their limitations and complications, and the procedures developed to optimize solar data quality derived from our experience with the initial solar observations.