🔗 Share this article

For India's first solar observatory, 2026 will be truly unique.

This marks the initial occasion the observatory – that entered in orbit last year – can observe our star when it reaches its maximum activity cycle.

According to scientific data, it comes roughly every 11 years when the Sun's magnetic poles flip – the Earth equivalent could be the planet's poles swapping positions.

This period marked by intense activity. It sees our star transition from calm to stormy and is marked by a significant rise in the number of solar storms and massive solar flares – massive bubbles of fire that blow out of the Sun's outermost layer.

Made up of charged particles, a coronal mass ejection can weigh up to a trillion kilograms and reach a speed exceeding 2,000 miles per second. It can head out toward various directions, including towards the Earth. At maximum velocity, the journey takes a CME 15 hours to traverse the 150 million km Earth-Sun distance.

"In the normal or quiet periods, our star emits two to three CMEs daily," explains a leading scientist. "Next year, it's anticipated there will be 10 or more daily."

Researching CMEs is one of the key scientific objectives of India's first solar observatory. One, as these eruptions offer a chance to study the Sun in the center of our solar system, and secondly, since events occurring on the solar surface threaten systems on our planet and in orbit.

Effects on Earth and Orbital Systems

Coronal mass ejections rarely pose a direct threat to people, but they do affect our planet through generating geomagnetic storms affecting conditions in near space, where nearly 11,000 satellites, including many from India, orbit.

"The most beautiful displays of a CME include northern lights, being direct evidence that solar particles from our star journey to Earth," the expert explains.

"However, they may cause electronic systems on a satellite malfunction, knock down electrical networks and disrupt weather and communication satellites."

Historical Solar Incidents

• The strongest solar storm ever recorded occurred during the 1859 solar superstorm which knocked out communication systems worldwide
• In 1989, a part of Quebec's power grid failed, leaving millions in darkness for hours
• In November 2015, solar activity disturbed air traffic control, causing disruption in Sweden and some other European airports
• In February 2022, a CME caused 38 commercial satellites being lost

With capability to see what happens on the Sun's corona and detect solar activity or solar eruption as it happens, measure its heat at the source and watch its trajectory, this serves as advanced warning to shut down electrical systems and spacecraft redirecting them to safety.

Aditya-L1's Special Capability

While other space observatories watching our star, Aditya-L1 has an advantage compared to rivals when it comes to studying the solar atmosphere.

"Aditya-L1's coronagraph has perfect dimensions enabling it to nearly mimic lunar coverage, fully covering the solar disk permitting an uninterrupted view of almost all of the corona 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, even during solar events," notes the expert.

Essentially, this instrument acts like an artificial Moon, obscuring the Sun's bright surface to let researchers constantly study the dim solar atmosphere – something the real Moon does only during specific moments.

Moreover, it's unique that can study eruptions using optical wavelengths, letting it measure a CME's temperature and thermal output – crucial data that show the intensity of an eruption if it headed toward Earth.

Preparation for Maximum Activity

To prepare for the upcoming peak solar activity period, scientists worked together to study information obtained from a major CMEs that Aditya-L1 has recorded until now.

This event began in September 2024 at 00:30 GMT. The eruption's weight totaled billions of tons – the iceberg that struck the ship was 1.5 million tonnes.

At origin, the heat reached extreme levels with energy equivalent was equivalent to millions of tons of explosives – relative to the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were 15 kilotons and 21 kilotons respectively.

Even though these figures seem incredibly large, the expert describes it as a "medium-sized" one.

The asteroid which wiped out prehistoric life on Earth was 100 million megatons and during solar peak occurs, there may be CMEs carrying power equal to greater levels.

"I consider this eruption we analyzed to have occurred during periods of typical solar activity. Now this sets the standard that we'll be using assessing what to expect during solar maximum occurs," he says.

"The insights gained will help us work out protective measures to implement to protect satellites in orbit. They will also help us gain a better understanding of near-Earth space," he concludes.