India's latest Sun Mission for the world

WORLD

Zeenat Ali

11/28/20241 min read

Scientists in India have informed the “first significant result” from Aditya-L1, the country’s first ever solar observation mission in space.

The new study, they said, could assist in keeping power grids and communication satellites out of harm.

The most important of the seven scientific instruments Aditya-L1 is accompanying Visible Emission Line Coronagraph that assisted scientists estimate the precise time.

Studying CMEs is one of the most essential scientific objectives of India’s maiden solar mission.

Prof R Ramesh of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics that designed Velc says, “Made up of charged particles, a CME could weigh up to a trillion kilograms and can attain a speed of up to 3,000km [1,864 miles] per second while travelling.

It can head out in any direction, including towards the Earth,”

He added, “Now imagine this huge fireball hurtling towards Earth.

At its top speed, it would take just about 15 hours to cover the 150 million km Earth-Sun distance.”

The coronal ejection that was captured by Velc on 16 July had started at 13:08 GMT.

Prof Ramesh, declared it is originated on the side of the Earth.

“However, within half an hour of its journey, it got deflected and went in a different direction, going behind the Sun. As it was too far away, it did not impact Earth’s weather.”

Solar storms along with solar flares and coronal mass ejections, impact Earth's weather.

They also impact 7,800 satellites, including more than 50 from India that are stationed.

According to the reports from Space website, they hardly pose a direct threat to human life, but cause mayhem on Earth by interfering with the Earth’s magnetic field.

Their safest impact is causing beautiful auroras in areas close to the North and South Pole.

“Today our lives fully depend on communication satellites and CMEs can trip the internet, phone lines and radio communication. Prof Ramesh said.

This can lead to absolute chaos.

Source: BBC