In News: Aditya-L1 Provides First Near-Sun Spectroscopic Observations of Solar Eruptions
Background:
India’s maiden solar mission, Aditya-L1, launched onboard PSLV-C57 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota in 2023, carries the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC), among other payloads, to study the Sun from the Sun–Earth Lagrangian point L1. This location allows continuous, 24-hour observation of the Sun, free from eclipse or occultation effects. The mission has enabled a collaboration between the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) and NASA, producing the first spectroscopic measurements of a coronal mass ejection (CME) in the visible wavelength range very close to the Sun’s surface.
Key Features:
- VELC Payload Observations: Provided near-Sun spectroscopic data for CMEs, allowing measurement of electron density, energy, mass, temperature, and speed of the eruption.
- CME Statistics (Example Case):
- Electron density: ~370 million electrons/cm³ (compared to 10–100 million in non-CME corona)
- Energy: ~9.4 × 10²¹ joules (millions of times larger than atomic bomb yields)
- Mass: ~270 million tons (for perspective, Titanic iceberg ~1.5 million tons)
- Speed: 264 km/sec
- Temperature: 1.8 million K
- Scientific Importance: Observations are closest to the Sun in visible wavelengths, providing critical data on material ejection and energy transfer during CMEs.
- Collaboration: Work led by Prof. R. Ramesh (Principal Investigator, VELC) and Dr. V. Muthupriyal at the VELC operations centre, IIA.
Key Issues:
- Technical Challenge: Obtaining high-fidelity spectroscopic data near the Sun’s surface demands extremely stable instrumentation and precise calibration.
- Data Analysis: Understanding the parameters of CMEs near their origin is crucial for accurate space weather modeling and requires specialized expertise.
Implications:
- Enhances India’s leadership in solar physics by providing first-of-its-kind near-Sun CME data.
- Contributes to space weather prediction, which is critical for satellite safety, communication networks, and power grids.
- Provides a platform for international collaboration and advanced training of Indian scientists.
Applications:
- Scientific Research: Detailed studies of CME dynamics, solar corona physics, and solar activity cycles.
- Space Weather Forecasting: Early warning for CME-related geomagnetic storms impacting Earth.
- Education & Capacity Building: Hands-on experience for researchers in spectroscopy, heliophysics, and data analysis.
Way Forward:
- Continue regular VELC operations as the Sun approaches the maximum of sunspot cycle 25, anticipating more energetic eruptions.
- Expand data sharing and collaborative studies with national and international institutions.
- Utilize these observations to refine models of solar mass ejection, energy release, and space weather impacts.
Institution: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
- Established: 1969
- Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
- Function: India’s national space agency, responsible for space research, satellite development, and space exploration missions
- Collaborating Institution: Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA)
Updated - 10 November 2025; 01:58 AM | News Source: The Hindu