Agência Espacial Indiana (ISRO) has strategically positioned the Aditya-L1 observatory at a prime observation point known as the Lagrange L1 point. From this location, the probe has an uninterrupted view of Sol, allowing constant monitoring of its activity. The mission is preparing for a crucial period, as it will record for the first time the maximum of the solar cycle, expected to occur in a prolonged manner until 2026.
The main objective of the mission is to deepen the understanding of extreme solar phenomena, such as coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and solar explosions. Esses events release enormous amounts of energized particles into space, which can travel at millions of kilometers per hour. Quando targeted at Terra, these particles pose a significant threat to technological infrastructure in orbit and on the surface.
With a suite of seven high-precision scientific instruments, Aditya-L1 collects real-time data about the solar corona, the outermost and most enigmatic layer of Sol’s atmosphere. The information obtained is vital for developing more accurate forecasting models, helping to mitigate the risks associated with space weather and protect communications systems, satellites and electrical power grids around the world.
The dynamics of solar cycle 25
The Sol operates in activity cycles that last approximately 11 years, alternating between periods of calm, known as solar minimum, and phases of intense turbulence, known as solar maximum. Durante minimum, the occurrence of events such as CMEs is relatively low, registering around two to three per day. Este scenario changes drastically as the cycle progresses to its peak.
At solar maximum, the frequency of these events can increase to ten or more per day, accompanied by high-intensity solar explosions (flares). The peak of the cycle is marked by the inversion of the Sol’s magnetic poles, a complex process that fundamentally alters the behavior of the solar atmosphere and intensifies the release of energy into interplanetary space.
These transitions in solar behavior directly affect the space environment near Terra, where more than 11,000 active satellites orbit, of which 136 are Indian. Partículas charges ejected by Sol can damage sensitive electronic components, disrupt communications and increase atmospheric drag, reducing the lifespan of low-orbit satellites.
The current solar cycle, numbered 25, has already demonstrated an anticipated peak in mid-2024, but scientists predict that elevated activity will continue on a prolonged basis until 2026. Continued observations of Aditya-L1 during this period are crucial for mapping the cycle’s evolution and predicting the trajectory of potentially dangerous geomagnetic storms.
The instruments on board the observatory
The main instrument of the Aditya-L1 mission is the Coronógrafo of Linha of Emissão Visível (VELC), a sophisticated tool designed to study the solar corona. VELC works by blocking intense light from the visible surface of Sol, the photosphere, creating a permanent artificial eclipse. Isso allows scientists to observe the corona, which is much fainter, in a continuous and detailed way.
In addition to VELC, the probe is equipped with six other complementary instruments. Telescópio of Imagem Ultravioleta Solar (SUIT) captures images of the photosphere and chromosphere at ultraviolet wavelengths, providing information about the lower layers of the solar atmosphere. Já o Experimento of Partículas of
Essa combination of instruments allows a multidimensional analysis of solar phenomena. Enquanto some equipment performs remote sensing, observing the Sol from a distance, others make in situ measurements, analyzing the particle environment around the observatory. This integrated approach is key to connecting activity on the solar surface with its effects in interplanetary space.
Technological risks and the importance of monitoring
History records events that demonstrate the vulnerability of our technological society to solar storms. The most famous of them, the Evento Carrington of 1859, was a geomagnetic storm of extreme proportions that caused the collapse of telegraph systems around the world, causing fires in stations and generating auroras visible even in tropical regions such as Cuba and Havaí. If an event of similar magnitude were to occur today, the damage to global infrastructure would be catastrophic, with losses estimated at trillions of dollars and a recovery time that could take years. More recent Incidentes also serve as a warning: in 1989, a lesser-intensity solar storm knocked out the electrical grid in the province of Quebec, in Canadá, leaving six million people without power for nine hours. In February 2022, the company SpaceX lost 38 of its newly launched Starlink satellites due to increased atmospheric drag caused by an EMC. Esses examples highlight that even moderate events can have severe consequences for satellites, power grids, GPS systems and radio communications, making continuous monitoring, such as that performed by Aditya-L1, a strategic necessity for the security and resilience of modern infrastructure.
Strategic advantages of the Indian mission
The Aditya-L1 mission has technical advantages that distinguish it from other solar observatories, such as the renowned SOHO (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory), a collaboration between NASA and ESA. Aditya-L1’s VELC coronagraph can observe the solar corona much closer to the edge of the solar disk than other instruments, filling a crucial gap in collecting data on the origin of coronal mass ejections. Essa capability allows for a more complete and uninterrupted view of the solar plasma acceleration process.
Its location at point L1, 1.5 million kilometers from Terra, is also fundamental. By operating outside of Earth’s magnetic field, the observatory avoids interference that could distort measurements of particles and interplanetary magnetic fields. Isso ensures cleaner and more accurate data on the solar wind before it interacts with our planet’s magnetosphere, providing more reliable early warning of the arrival of geomagnetic storms, up to 72 hours in advance.
Analysis of a recent coronal mass ejection
To illustrate the mission’s capability, an event recorded on September 13, 2024 serves as a clear example of the power of these phenomena. At the time, Aditya-L1 observed an EMC with an estimated mass of 270 million tons, moving through space with temperatures that reached 1.8 million degrees Celsius at its point of origin.
The energy released by this single ejection was equivalent to 2.2 million megatons of TNT, a force that exceeds the power of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs by orders of magnitude. Embora classified as a medium-sized event, it demonstrates the scale of energy that the mission deals with on a daily basis and serves as a basis for calibrating models that will predict the intensity of events during the 2026 peak.
Visible effects and disturbances on Terra
When the energized particles of an EMC arrive at Terra, they interact with the planet’s magnetic field, being channeled to the polar regions. Essa interaction excites gases in the upper atmosphere, such as oxygen and nitrogen, which then emit light, creating the visual spectacles known as the aurora borealis and australis.
Although of great beauty, the intensity and expansion of the auroras to lower latitudes is a direct sign of an ongoing geomagnetic disturbance. During these periods, GPS navigation systems may experience loss of accuracy and high-frequency radio communications used by aviation and emergency operators may be disrupted. Monitoring Aditya-L1 helps to correlate the solar origin of these events with their practical effects on Terra.
Preventative measures and global collaboration
Data collected by Aditya-L1 is processed in real time by Instituto Indiano teams from Astrofísica (IIA) and shared with the international scientific community. Essa collaboration makes it possible to refine forecast models and issue alerts that enable the adoption of protective measures, such as repositioning satellites to avoid areas of highest radiation or adjusting operations in electrical networks to prevent overloads.
