Aditya-L1: Advancing Solar Research

Context

• The Sun influences space weather, affecting satellites, communication, and power grids.
• Aditya-L1, India’s first solar observatory at L1 (1.5 million km from Earth), ensures uninterrupted solar studies.
• Recently, its SUIT telescope captured the first-ever detailed image of a solar flare ‘kernel’, marking a major breakthrough.

Solar Corona: The Sun’s Outer Layer

• The corona extends millions of kilometers, with temperatures 1–10 million K, much hotter than the surface (~5,800 K).
• Made of highly ionized plasma, emitting ultraviolet and X-ray radiation.
• Key for understanding coronal heating and solar wind formation.

Solar Flares: Intense Solar Energy Bursts

• Sudden energy release due to magnetic field reconnection.
• Classified into A, B, C, M, and X-class, with X-class being the most powerful.
• Impacts satellites, GPS, power grids, and astronauts.

SUIT (Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope)

• First telescope to capture full-disk solar images in near-UV (2000–4000 Å).
• Helps study ozone, solar radiation, and high-energy solar activity.

Aditya-L1’s Breakthrough Observation

• SUIT recorded an X6.3-class solar flare, one of the strongest observed.
• Captured NUV brightening (200-400 nm), confirming how flare energy spreads across solar layers.
• Strengthens theories linking lower atmosphere activity to corona heating.

Conclusion

• Aditya-L1 enhances India’s space research, improving solar physics and space weather predictions.
• Its findings help protect satellites, astronauts, and communication systems from solar disruptions.