ADITYA L1: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
NEWS: Aditya-L1 mission: scientists observe a flareless coronal mass ejection
WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?
India's Aditya L1 mission, launched to study the Sun, made a significant achievement by detecting a rare flareless coronal mass ejection (CME) on July 5, 2024. This observation provides crucial insights into solar activity, especially during the peak of Solar Cycle 25, which has increased solar phenomena.
About Aditya L1:
• India’s First Solar Observation Mission:
Aditya L1 is India’s first dedicated mission to study the Sun. It marks a significant achievement in solar research and is a milestone in India’s space exploration efforts.
• ISRO’s Second Astronomy Observatory-Class Mission:
Aditya L1 is ISRO’s second astronomy observatory-class mission after AstroSat, which was launched in 2015 for astronomical observations in various wavelengths.
• Launch and Orbit:
The spacecraft was launched using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), a reliable workhorse of ISRO for satellite launches.
It will travel to the Lagrange 1 (L1) point, which is about 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. The L1 point lies between Earth and the Sun and offers an ideal vantage point for studying solar activity without the interference of the Earth’s shadow.
• Primary Mission Objectives:
The mission's primary objective is to gain a deeper understanding of the Sun—the star closest to Earth—and study how its radiation, heat, flow of particles, and magnetic fields affect the Earth and the rest of the solar system.
• Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC):
The main payload of Aditya L1 is the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC), designed by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA). This instrument will help study the solar corona, the Sun's outermost atmosphere, from the lowermost part upwards, providing a clearer view of the Sun’s structure and solar activity.
• Other Scientific Payloads:
• Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT): Designed by the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), this telescope will capture ultraviolet images of the solar photosphere and chromosphere, enhancing our understanding of the Sun’s outer layers.
• Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer (SoLEXS) and High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (HEL1OS): Developed by the UR Rao Satellite Centre, these instruments will study X-ray flares from the Sun, helping in understanding high-energy solar phenomena.
• Aditya Solar Wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX): Developed by ISRO’s Physical Research Laboratory, this experiment is designed to study solar wind and the energetic ions emitted by the Sun.
• Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA): Developed by ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, this instrument will analyze plasma interactions at the L1 point.
• Advanced Tri-axial High-Resolution Digital Magnetometers (MAG): These will measure the interplanetary magnetic fields at the L1 point, providing insights into the Sun's magnetic influence on space weather.
• Collaboration with Other Solar Observatories:
The spacecraft also features a coronagraph to look much closer to the surface of the Sun, complementing the data provided by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), a mission by NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA).
Observation of Flareless CME (Coronal Mass Ejection):
• Significant Observation:
On July 5, 2024, the VELC team detected a flareless coronal mass ejection (CME), which is a rare phenomenon where a CME occurred without an associated solar flare. This observation is important because it helps scientists better understand solar activity.
• Insights into Solar Activity:
The observation provides valuable information about the mechanisms behind magnetic reconnection, which is responsible for both solar flares and CMEs. Flares and CMEs originate from the rearrangement of the Sun's magnetic field lines. However, flares primarily release energy as electromagnetic radiation from heated plasma, while CMEs involve the ejection of massive amounts of plasma and magnetic fields.
• Differences between Flares and CMEs:
• Solar Flares: Primarily release energy as electromagnetic radiation, such as X-rays and ultraviolet radiation.
• CMEs: These are large-scale eruptions of plasma and magnetic fields from the Sun’s corona, with masses reaching up to a trillion kilograms. CMEs can travel at speeds of up to 3,000 km/s through interplanetary space and can affect space weather near Earth.
• CME Behavior and Solar Cycle:
• The Sun is nearing the maximum phase of Solar Cycle 25, which is characterized by heightened solar activity, including increased CMEs. This means CMEs are expected to occur more frequently, providing more data for analysis and improving understanding of their impacts on space weather.
About Solar Cycle 25:
• What is Solar Cycle 25?:
Solar Cycle 25 is the current 11-year cycle of solar activity, which started in December 2019. It is marked by a gradual increase in solar phenomena such as sunspots, solar flares, and CMEs, followed by a period of maximum activity.
• Current Status of Solar Cycle 25:
As of October 2024, Solar Cycle 25 has reached its maximum activity phase, characterized by the highest solar activity levels of the cycle.
• Significant Solar Storm:
In May 2024, a powerful solar storm occurred, leading to auroras visible at unusually low latitudes. This storm was the most intense in over 20 years, underscoring the increased solar activity expected during the peak of Solar Cycle 25.
Conclusion:
Aditya L1's mission is a groundbreaking step in India’s efforts to study solar phenomena and understand the impact of the Sun on space weather and Earth. The observation of the flareless CME marks a significant achievement in solar research and offers insights into the complex dynamics of solar activity. This mission, coupled with the increasing solar activity of Solar Cycle 25, will contribute to a deeper understanding of the Sun’s behavior and its influence on the solar system.