On November 27, 2024, India’s space agency ISRO launched the Aditya-L1 mission, joining NASA, ESA, Japan, and China in solar observation. Named after the Hindu sun god, Aditya-L1 offers continuous monitoring of the Sun, including during eclipses and occultations.
Professor Ramesh explains that while the Sun appears as an orange sphere from Earth, only during a total eclipse can the solar corona, its outer layer, be observed. Aditya-L1's coronagraph is designed to mimic the Moon's role, allowing it to obscure the Sun’s photosphere and provide uninterrupted views of the corona year-round.
In contrast, the NASA-ESA coronagraph, being larger, obscures parts of the corona, limiting its ability to track coronal mass ejections originating from hidden regions. Aditya-L1, with its capabilities, can accurately estimate when and where these ejections occur.
Additionally, India operates three ground-based observatories in Kodaikanal, Gauribidanur, and Udaipur, which will complement Aditya-L1's findings, significantly enhancing the understanding of solar dynamics.