By Vidhi Thacker
A unique solar event has been captured by India’s Aditya-L1 mission. Scientists have captured the first image of a solar flare “kernel” in the lower solar atmosphere. This image will help them study the Sun’s energy bursts.
Aditya-L1 was launched on 2nd September 2023. It is in a special orbit called the Lagrange Point L1, which is 1.5 million kilometres from Earth. It has been placed her because from this position the Aditya-L1 can continuously observe the Sun without being blocked or experiencing eclipses.
Solar flares are sudden bursts of energy from the Sun’s surface. They occur because the Sun has a changing magnetic field. These flares release energy in the form of radiation and charged particles which can disrupt communication on Earth and affect space weather.
The instruments present in Aditya-L1 help scientists in studying these solar flares closely. They can also track how the energy of these flares is spread across different layers. The solar flare that has been captured has also helped scientists confirm a link between flare energy and temperature changes in the solar corona.
Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT), carried by the Adiya-L1, played an important role in this discovery by capturing the solar flare. It can take pictures in 11 different wavelengths. This helps scientists study different layers of the Sun’s atmosphere.
Other instruments on the Aditya-L1, such as SoLEXS and HEL1OS, are instruments that study solar X-rays. They detect solar flares and energy bursts. Together, these tools give us a clear picture of how the sun behaves.
The solar flare recorded on 22nd February 2024 was an X6.3-class solar flare. It is one of the most fierce types. Scientists noticed a brightening in the near-ultraviolet (NUV) range, showing detail like never before. This event confirmed that solar energy moves through different layers of the atmosphere.
Solar flares have long been studied by scientists using space missions. NUV observations were rare because there were not many telescopes available. Now, Aditya-L1 helps fill this gap and provides new insights into solar physics.
Aditya-L1 leads India’s solar research due to its advanced instruments and this mission is set to deepen our understanding of the influence of the Sun on space weather.