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For India's first solar observatory, the year 2026 will be like no other.

This marks the initial occasion the spacecraft – that entered into space last year – can observe the Sun when it reaches its maximum activity cycle.

As per scientific data, it comes approximately once every 11 years when the Sun's magnetic poles flip – a similar Earth scenario could be the North and South poles swapping positions.

It's a time marked by intense activity. It sees the Sun transition from calm to stormy and features a huge increase in the number of solar eruptions and massive solar flares – massive bubbles of plasma that blow out of the Sun's outermost layer.

Composed of charged particles, a CME can weigh up to a trillion kilograms and reach velocities of up to 3,000km each second. It can head out toward various directions, including towards the Earth. At maximum velocity, it would take an ejection 15 hours to traverse the 150 million km Earth-Sun distance.

"In the normal or low-activity times, our star emits two to three CMEs a day," explains an astrophysics expert. "Next year, we expect them to be 10 or more each day."

Studying CMEs is one of the most important scientific objectives of India's first solar observatory. One, because the ejections provide an opportunity to learn about the star in the center of our solar system, and secondly, because activities that take place on the solar surface endanger systems on our planet and in space.

Effects on Our Planet and Space Infrastructure

CMEs seldom present immediate danger to people, yet they impact our planet by causing magnetic disturbances affecting the weather in near space, where nearly 11,000 satellites, comprising many from India, orbit.

"The most spectacular displays of a CME are auroras, which are direct evidence that charged particles from Sun journey to Earth," the expert explains.

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

Past Solar Incidents

• The most powerful solar storm ever recorded was the Carrington Event which knocked out telegraph lines across the globe
• In 1989, a part of Quebec's power grid was knocked out, affecting millions without power for nine hours
• In November 2015, solar storms disrupted flight operations, leading to disruption in Sweden and some other European air hubs
• Recently in 2022, a CME 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 in real time, measure its heat at origin and track its trajectory, this serves as a forewarning to shut down power grids and spacecraft redirecting them to safety.

The Mission's Unique Advantage

While other solar missions watching the Sun, India's spacecraft has an advantage over others regarding watching the corona.

"The instrument has perfect dimensions that lets it effectively simulate the Moon, completely blocking the solar disk permitting continuous observation of nearly the entire solar atmosphere around the clock, throughout the year, including during solar events," notes the expert.

Essentially, this instrument functions as a synthetic eclipse, blocking the Sun's bright surface to let researchers continuously observe its faint outer corona – a feat natural eclipses does only during specific moments.

Moreover, it's unique that can study solar events in visible light, letting it measure eruption heat and heat energy – crucial data indicating the intensity a CME would be when traveling toward Earth.

Readiness for Peak Period

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

It originated on 13 September 2024 during early hours. The eruption's weight was 270 million tonnes – the iceberg that sank Titanic was 1.5 million tonnes.

Initially, the heat was 1.8 million degrees Celsius with energy equivalent was equivalent to millions of tons of explosives – relative to the atomic bombs used in Japan were much smaller and 21 kilotons respectively.

Although the numbers seem incredibly large, the scientist describes it as a "medium-sized" one.

The asteroid which wiped out prehistoric life on our planet carried enormous energy and when the Sun's maximum activity cycle, there may be CMEs with energy content equal to greater levels.

"In my view the CME we analyzed happened when the Sun was in the normal activity phase. Now this sets the standard for future comparison to evaluate what is in store when the maximum activity cycle arrives," he states.

"The insights gained will help us work out protective measures to be adopted to protect satellites in orbit. They will also help achieving deeper knowledge of near-Earth space," he adds.