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Regarding Aditya-L1, the year 2026 will be truly unique.

It's the first time the observatory – which was placed into space last year – can watch the Sun when it reaches its maximum activity cycle.

As per research, it comes approximately every 11 years as the Sun's polarity reverses – a similar Earth scenario would be the North and South poles swapping positions.

This period marked by intense activity. It sees the Sun changing from calm to stormy and is marked by a huge increase in the number of solar storms and massive solar flares – massive bubbles of fire that blow out from the solar corona.

Composed of charged particles, a CME can weigh up to a trillion kilograms and can attain velocities exceeding 2,000 miles per second. It can travel toward various directions, even toward our planet. At top speed, it would take an ejection about half a day to traverse the vast distance Earth-Sun distance.

"In the normal or low-activity times, our star launches two to three CMEs daily," explains a leading scientist. "In 2026, we expect them to be 10 or more each day."

Studying coronal mass ejections is one of the key research goals for the Indian maiden solar mission. One, as these eruptions offer a chance to learn about the star in the center of our planetary system, and two, since events that take place on the solar surface endanger infrastructure on Earth and in orbit.

Effects on Earth and Orbital Systems

CMEs seldom present immediate danger to human life, yet they impact our planet through generating geomagnetic storms that impact conditions in Earth's vicinity, where about 11,000 satellites, comprising Indian satellites, are stationed.

"The most spectacular manifestations from solar eruptions include northern lights, which are a clear example that charged particles from our star journey to Earth," the expert clarifies.

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

Historical Solar Incidents

• The strongest solar storm ever recorded was the Carrington Event that disabled telegraph lines worldwide
• In 1989, a part of Canadian electrical network failed, affecting six million people in darkness for nine hours
• During late 2015, solar storms disrupted flight operations, causing chaos in Sweden and some other European airports
• Recently in 2022, an ejection had led to 38 commercial satellites being lost

If we are able to observe what happens on the Sun's corona and detect solar activity or solar eruption as it happens, measure its heat at origin and track its trajectory, it can work as a forewarning to switch off electrical systems and spacecraft and move them out of harm's way.

Aditya-L1's Special Capability

There are other solar missions observing our star, Aditya-L1 holds an edge compared to rivals regarding studying the solar atmosphere.

"Aditya-L1's coronagraph is the exact size that lets it nearly mimic the Moon, completely blocking the solar disk permitting continuous observation of almost all solar atmosphere 24 hours a day, throughout the year, even during eclipses and occultations," says the researcher.

Essentially, this instrument functions as an artificial Moon, blocking the Sun's bright surface to let researchers constantly study its faint outer corona – a feat natural eclipses does only during eclipses.

Additionally, this is the only mission that can study eruptions using optical wavelengths, enabling it to determine a CME's temperature and heat energy – crucial data indicating the intensity a CME would be if it headed toward Earth.

Preparation for Peak Period

In preparation for next year's peak solar activity period, researchers worked together to study information obtained from one of the largest solar eruption that Aditya-L1 has observed recently.

This event began on 13 September 2024 during early hours. Its mass totaled billions of tons – for comparison that struck the ship was 1.5 million tonnes.

At origin, the heat was 1.8 million degrees Celsius and the energy content comparable to 2.2 million megatons of TNT – relative to the atomic bombs used in Japan were much smaller in scale respectively.

Although these figures seem incredibly large, the scientist describes it as a moderate event.

The space rock which wiped out the dinosaurs on Earth was 100 million megatons and during solar peak occurs, there may be eruptions carrying power matching greater levels.

"In my view the CME we analyzed to have occurred when the Sun was in the normal activity phase. This establishes the benchmark for future comparison to evaluate what to expect when the maximum activity cycle occurs," he says.

"The learnings gained will assist in work out the countermeasures to be adopted to protect spacecraft in near space. They will also help us gain a better understanding of our space environment," he concludes.