India’s Aditya-L1 solar mission has notched up its first major achievement, unveiling data that could safeguard Earth’s infrastructure from intense solar activity in the future.
Launched earlier this year by ISRO, the observatory’s cutting-edge equipment has already demonstrated its value by pinpointing the start time of a coronal mass ejection (CME), an explosive burst of charged particles from the Sun. This breakthrough could lead to more accurate early warnings for solar storms, which are known to disrupt power grids, satellites, and communication systems.
Aditya-L1, named after the Sun god in the Hindu pantheon, has joined an elite club of solar missions operated by global space agencies like NASA and ESA. From its unique vantage point, the spacecraft continuously monitors the Sun, unhindered by eclipses or Earthly interruptions.
A CME is no small matter — it’s a colossal eruption that can weigh up to a trillion kilograms and zoom through space at speeds of up to 3,000 km per second. Scientists explain that these fiery “space cannonballs” can cover the 150-million-kilometre gap between the Sun and Earth in as little as 15 hours.
Depending on its trajectory, a CME can wreak havoc on Earth’s magnetic field, with potential knock-on effects for modern technology. Aditya-L1’s data captured during a recent CME event has already proven its capability to track such phenomena with unprecedented precision.
At the heart of this finding is the Velc instrument, a coronagraph designed to simulate the effects of a total solar eclipse. While ground-based observers typically see the Sun as an orange blaze, Velc blocks out its brightest layer, the photosphere, to reveal the faint yet critical solar corona. This unique design allows Aditya-L1 to continuously monitor the Sun’s outermost layer, spotting CMEs as they originate — something larger instruments on other missions sometimes miss.
Scientists have highlighted Velc’s ability to provide a clear and uninterrupted view of the solar corona. This constant observation ensures that no CME goes undetected, giving Earth-bound infrastructure a vital head start against potential disruptions.
India is also strengthening its solar research with ground-based observatories in Kodaikanal, Gauribidanur, and Udaipur. Together with Aditya-L1’s space-based observations, these facilities create a comprehensive framework for understanding solar activity. The synergy between ground and space data promises to unlock deeper insights into the Sun’s behaviour, making Earth’s systems more resilient to solar outbursts.
With this early success, Aditya-L1 has firmly established itself as a key player in the global effort to monitor and understand our closest star.
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Aditya-L1’s latest findings will help power grids and satellites during intense solar activities
