Visibility Analysis of the Sun as Viewed From Multiple Spacecraft at the Sun‐Earth Lagrange Points

Abstract Spacecraft equipped with solar telescopes are planned for deployment at various vantage points in the heliosphere to conduct coordinated, multi‐view observations of the Sun and its dynamic activities. We investigate solar visibility using imaging instruments aboard spacecraft stationed at the Sun‐Earth Lagrange points L1, L4 and L5. First, the optimal arrival time for vertical periodic orbits at L4 and L5 is determined on the basis of geometric factors that maximize the visibility of the solar poles and higher latitudes. For different orbits around L1, L4 and L5, we calculate the visibility of the solar surface (i.e., observation days per year) as a function of solar latitude. Additionally, we analyze how the solar limb observed from one Lagrange point aligns with the solar surface visible from the other two points, with a focus on studying solar eruptions like flares and coronal mass ejections. This analysis aims to assess the feasibility of coordinated observations of off‐disk erupting structures and their on‐disk magnetic footpoints. Furthermore, we evaluate the improvement in continuous tracking of solar features, such as sunspots, with multiple spacecraft in various orbital configurations. This tracking helps in studying the long‐term evolution of these features, from emergence to decay. A comprehensive comparison of observations from single (L1), double (L1 and L4), and multiple spacecraft (L1, L4 and L5) is conducted, aiding the design of future space missions involving solar observatories at the Sun‐Earth Lagrange points.