The Sun in Focus: From Early Telescopes to High-Resolution Physics

This plenary traces the evolution of solar observation from early sunspot sketches to modern diffraction-limited imaging with the Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope and more recently with the Daniel K Inouye 4-m Solar Telescope. These advances have transformed the Sun from a distant luminous disk into a dynamic, multi-layered plasma system, where fine-scale magnetic structuring and energy transport processes are now resolved across multiple spectral domains. The talk highlights how increasing spatial, temporal, and spectral resolution, combined with global collaborations involving institutions such as the South African Astronomical Observatory, has deepened our understanding of the coupled photosphere–chromosphere–corona system and its role in space weather. By bridging heritage, international collaboration, and cutting-edge technology, we move closer to unlocking the fundamental plasma physics governing our nearest star.