For India's first solar observation mission, Aditya-L1, the year 2026 is on course to be a defining moment. At this point, the observatory will finally get to witness the Sun in its maximum activity cycle phase - an occurrence that happens roughly every 11 years when the Sun's magnetic poles flip. This phenomenon has significant implications for our solar system.
The Sun transitions from calm to stormy during this period, marked by increased numbers of solar storms and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). These CMEs are enormous bubbles of plasma originating from the Sun's outermost layer called corona. They're massive and can reach incredible speeds.
The consequences of these CMEs on our planet aren't usually catastrophic but can cause geomagnetic storms that disrupt weather patterns near space, affecting satellites in orbit around Earth, including nearly 11,000 spacecraft sent by various countries.
Professor R.Ramesh from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics emphasizes that studying CMEs is vital to understanding our solar system. The largest recorded CME has the potential to cause massive disruptions on a global scale, but with real-time data and monitoring, it's possible to take necessary precautions like switching off power grids and satellites in harm's way.
Aditya-L1 possesses unique instruments that enable continuous observation of the Sun's corona during normal or low-activity times. This capability provides crucial insights into solar activity cycles, allowing scientists to better prepare for future events. The mission has already provided valuable data from one of its largest CMEs and is being used to study the effects on our planet.
The upcoming year will be crucial for Aditya-L1 as it heads towards a period of heightened solar activity. It's an exciting time for space exploration, with potential breakthroughs on the horizon.
The Sun transitions from calm to stormy during this period, marked by increased numbers of solar storms and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). These CMEs are enormous bubbles of plasma originating from the Sun's outermost layer called corona. They're massive and can reach incredible speeds.
The consequences of these CMEs on our planet aren't usually catastrophic but can cause geomagnetic storms that disrupt weather patterns near space, affecting satellites in orbit around Earth, including nearly 11,000 spacecraft sent by various countries.
Professor R.Ramesh from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics emphasizes that studying CMEs is vital to understanding our solar system. The largest recorded CME has the potential to cause massive disruptions on a global scale, but with real-time data and monitoring, it's possible to take necessary precautions like switching off power grids and satellites in harm's way.
Aditya-L1 possesses unique instruments that enable continuous observation of the Sun's corona during normal or low-activity times. This capability provides crucial insights into solar activity cycles, allowing scientists to better prepare for future events. The mission has already provided valuable data from one of its largest CMEs and is being used to study the effects on our planet.
The upcoming year will be crucial for Aditya-L1 as it heads towards a period of heightened solar activity. It's an exciting time for space exploration, with potential breakthroughs on the horizon.