India’s Aditya-L1 Records Solar Flare ‘Kernel’ for First Time
Aditya-L1 captures the first-ever image of a solar flare ‘kernel,’ marking a breakthrough in solar research. Scientists analyze its impact on space weather.
image for illustrative purpose
India’s Aditya-L1 mission has recorded a pioneering observation by capturing the first-ever image of a solar flare ‘kernel,’ offering new insights into the Sun’s energy dynamics. The image, obtained from the lower solar atmosphere, marks a significant advancement in solar research.
Launched on September 2, 2023, Aditya-L1 entered its designated orbit at Lagrange Point L1, approximately 1.5 million kilometers from Earth, on January 6, 2024. Its position allows for continuous, unobstructed monitoring of solar activity.
The Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) captured the solar flare ‘kernel’ in the Near Ultraviolet (NUV) band, an unprecedented achievement in space-based solar studies. SUIT, capable of observing the Sun in 11 different wavelengths, contributes to understanding the Sun’s atmospheric layers. Additional instruments, including SoLEXS and HEL1OS, analyze solar X-ray activity and detect flare-related energy bursts.
On February 22, 2024, Aditya-L1 documented an X6.3-class solar flare, classified among the most intense solar eruptions. SUIT’s NUV imaging provided detailed observations of brightening patterns, improving knowledge of how solar energy propagates through different layers of the atmosphere.
Solar flares, caused by shifts in the Sun’s magnetic field, release radiation and charged particles that can influence space weather and communication systems on Earth. Aditya-L1’s advanced instrumentation enables researchers to track energy distribution within the solar atmosphere. Before this mission, such high-resolution NUV flare observations were not possible due to the absence of suitable telescopes.
The mission’s findings establish a connection between solar flare energy and temperature variations in the Sun’s corona. These insights contribute to refining space weather predictions and furthering solar physics research.
Aditya-L1 continues its data collection to analyze solar behavior and its effects on space weather. Scientists anticipate additional discoveries that will shape the understanding of solar activity. The latest research has been published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, marking a milestone in India’s space-based solar studies.
