India's ambitious solar mission, Aditya-L1, has provided its first scientific results regarding solar phenomena. On July 16, the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC), one of its seven critical instruments, captured significant data on Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs).
CMEs are massive bursts of solar wind and magnetic fields rising above the solar corona or being released into space. The VELC instrument has enabled scientists to determine the precise timing of CME events, enhancing the ability to predict when and in which direction these ejections will occur.
According to Professor R. Ramesh from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, a CME can weigh trillions of kilograms and travel at speeds of up to 3,000 kilometers per second. When directed toward Earth, a CME can reach our planet in approximately 15 hours, given the average distance of 150 million kilometers between the Earth and the Sun.
The CME observed on July 16 began at 13:08 GMT. Research published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters indicates that this particular CME was initially directed toward Earth but changed course within half an hour, moving away from our planet.
Solar storms and CMEs continuously affect the Earth's atmosphere and the space environment, which houses around 7,800 satellites, including 50 from India. Professor Ramesh emphasizes the importance of monitoring CMEs due to their potential impact on satellites, which are integral to daily communication and internet connectivity.