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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 observe our star when it reaches the peak of its solar cycle.

As per research, it comes approximately once every 11 years when the Sun's polarity reverses – the Earth equivalent could be the planet's poles changing places.

This period of great turbulence. It involves our star changing from peaceful to violent and features a significant rise in the number of solar eruptions and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) – massive bubbles of plasma that blow out from the solar corona.

Composed of ionized particles, a CME can weigh up to a trillion kilograms and reach a speed exceeding 2,000 miles each second. It can head out in any direction, including towards the Earth. At top speed, it would take an ejection about half a day to cover the 150 million km Earth-Sun distance.

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

Researching coronal mass ejections ranks among the most important scientific objectives for the Indian first solar observatory. Firstly, because the ejections offer a chance to study the star at the centre of our solar system, and secondly, because activities occurring on the solar surface endanger systems on our planet and in space.

Impacts on Our Planet and Space Infrastructure

CMEs seldom present a direct threat to people, but they do affect our planet through generating geomagnetic storms that impact conditions in near space, where about 11,000 satellites, comprising Indian satellites, orbit.

"The most spectacular manifestations of a CME include northern lights, being a clear example that solar particles from Sun are travelling to Earth," the scientist explains.

"However, they may cause electronic systems on a satellite fail, disable power grids and affect meteorological and telecom spacecraft."

Historical Solar Incidents

• The most powerful solar event ever recorded was the 1859 solar superstorm that disabled communication systems across the globe
• In 1989, sections of Quebec's power grid failed, leaving six million people without power for hours
• During late 2015, solar activity disturbed air traffic control, causing chaos in Sweden and various European air hubs
• In February 2022, an ejection caused 38 commercial satellites being lost

If we are able to see what happens in the solar atmosphere and spot a solar storm or a coronal mass ejection as it happens, measure its heat at the source and track its path, this serves as a forewarning to switch off power grids and spacecraft redirecting them out of harm's way.

Aditya-L1's Unique Advantage

While other space observatories observing our star, India's spacecraft has an advantage over others when it comes to studying the solar atmosphere.

"The instrument is the exact size that lets it effectively simulate the Moon, fully covering the solar disk permitting continuous observation of almost all solar atmosphere around the clock, 365 days a year, including during eclipses and occultations," notes the expert.

In other words, this instrument acts like an artificial Moon, obscuring the Sun's bright surface allowing researchers continuously observe the dim solar atmosphere – a feat natural eclipses provide only during eclipses.

Additionally, it's unique that can study eruptions using optical wavelengths, letting it determine a CME's temperature and thermal output – key clues indicating how strong of an eruption if it headed toward Earth.

Readiness for Maximum Activity

In preparation for next year's solar maximum, researchers collaborated analyzing information gathered from one of the largest CMEs that Aditya-L1 has recorded until now.

This event began on 13 September 2024 at 00:30 GMT. Its mass was 270 million tonnes – for comparison that struck the ship weighed much less.

At origin, the heat reached extreme levels with energy equivalent comparable to 2.2 million megatons of explosives – in comparison nuclear weapons used in Japan were much smaller and 21 kilotons respectively.

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

The space rock which wiped out prehistoric life on Earth carried enormous energy and during solar peak occurs, we could see CMEs carrying power equal to greater levels.

"In my view the CME we evaluated happened when the Sun was in the normal activity phase. Now this sets the benchmark that we'll be using assessing what to expect when the maximum activity cycle occurs," he says.

"The learnings from this will assist in work out protective measures to implement to protect spacecraft in orbit. Additionally, they'll aid achieving a better understanding of near-Earth space," he adds.