LUMA: Empowering Solar Research Through Open-Source Web Observatories and Image Analysis Tools

This paper introduces LUMA, an innovative open-source web application designed to facilitate the exploration and analysis of solar activity through comprehensive image datasets from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO). Leveraging modern web technologies, LUMA integrates images from SOHO's Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT) filters—EIT171, EIT195, EIT284, and EIT304—providing researchers with an intuitive platform to visualize and analyze various solar phenomena. By incorporating advanced topological features derived from solar images, LUMA enhances the predictive accuracy of machine learning models for sunspot forecasting. This paper details the development and implementation of LUMA, showcasing its capabilities in democratizing access to solar data and fostering scientific collaboration. The platform's open-access nature encourages widespread use and contributions, advancing our understanding of solar dynamics and space weather impacts.