Source: TH
Context: ISRO’s Aditya-L1 mission captured the first-ever image of a solar flare ‘kernel’, marking a significant breakthrough in solar physics research.
- The Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) onboard Aditya-L1 recorded the brightening in the Near Ultraviolet (NUV) band, offering new insights into solar flare energy dynamics.
About Aditya-L1:
- What is Aditya-L1?
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- India’s first space-based solar mission, launched to study the Sun’s outer layers and solar activity.
- Positioned at Lagrange Point L1, about 1.5 million km from Earth, enabling continuous solar observation without eclipses.
- Launched In:
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- September 2, 2023, aboard PSLV C-57 rocket.
- Successfully placed in halo orbit around L1 on January 6, 2024.
- Aim of the Mission:
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- Study solar dynamics, including flares, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and magnetic field variations.
- Observe solar radiation and its impact on Earth’s climate and space weather.
- What are Solar Flares?
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- Sudden bursts of intense energy from the Sun’s atmosphere, caused by magnetic field interactions.
- Release X-rays, ultraviolet light, and charged particles, which can disrupt satellite communications and power grids on Earth.
- How Aditya-L1 Studies Solar Flares?
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- SUIT (Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope): Captures UV images of the lower solar atmosphere.
- SoLEXS (Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer) & HEL1OS (High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer): Monitor solar X-ray emissions to detect flares.
- Continuous observation from L1 provides a real-time picture of solar activity.
About Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT):
- What is SUIT?
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- A specialized telescope on Aditya-L1, developed by Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune.
- Captures high-resolution images in 11 different NUV wavebands, covering the photosphere and chromosphere.
- Recent Observations:
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- SUIT detected an X6.3-class solar flare, one of the most intense solar eruptions recorded.
- Observed brightening in the Near Ultra-Violet (NUV) band (200-400 nm), a wavelength never studied in such detail before.
- Provided clear evidence of energy transmission from the solar surface to the corona.
- Significance of the Discovery:
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- Validates long-standing theories about solar energy transfer.
- Helps predict solar storms and space weather to protect satellites and power grids.
- Advances global solar physics research, enhancing our understanding of the Sun’s impact on Earth’s climate.
