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For Aditya-L1, 2026 is expected to be like no other.

This marks the initial occasion the observatory – which was placed into space recently – can observe our star when it reaches the peak of its solar cycle.

According to research, this occurs roughly once every 11 years when the Sun's magnetic poles flip – the Earth equivalent could be the North and South poles swapping positions.

It's a time of great turbulence. It sees the Sun transition from peaceful to violent and is marked by a huge increase in the number of solar eruptions and massive solar flares – massive bubbles of fire that erupt of the Sun's outermost layer.

Composed of charged particles, a coronal mass ejection may have a mass of billions of tons and can attain a speed exceeding 2,000 miles each second. It can head out toward various directions, including towards our planet. At maximum velocity, the journey takes a CME about half a day to cover the vast distance between Earth and the Sun.

"In the normal or quiet periods, the Sun emits a few solar eruptions a day," says a leading scientist. "In 2026, we expect there will be over ten each day."

Studying CMEs is one of the key research goals for the Indian first solar observatory. Firstly, because the ejections provide an opportunity to learn about the Sun at the centre of our solar system, and secondly, because activities that take place on the Sun endanger systems on our planet and in orbit.

Effects on Our Planet and Space Infrastructure

CMEs seldom present immediate danger to human life, yet they impact our planet by causing magnetic disturbances affecting the weather in Earth's vicinity, where nearly 11,000 satellites, comprising many from India, orbit.

"The most spectacular displays of a CME are auroras, being direct evidence that solar particles from our star are travelling toward our planet," the scientist clarifies.

"However, they may cause electronic systems aboard spacecraft malfunction, knock down electrical networks and disrupt meteorological and telecom spacecraft."

Historical Solar Events

• The strongest solar storm in history occurred during the 1859 solar superstorm which knocked out telegraph lines across the globe
• In 1989, sections of Quebec's power grid was knocked out, affecting millions in darkness for hours
• In November 2015, solar activity disrupted flight operations, causing chaos across Scandinavia and various European air hubs
• In February 2022, a CME caused 38 commercial satellites failing

With capability to observe events on the Sun's corona and detect solar activity or solar eruption as it happens, measure its heat at the source and watch its path, it can work as advanced warning to shut down electrical systems and spacecraft redirecting them to safety.

Aditya-L1's Special Capability

There are other space observatories observing the Sun, Aditya-L1 holds an edge compared to rivals when it comes to watching the corona.

"The instrument has perfect dimensions enabling it to nearly mimic lunar coverage, fully covering the Sun's photosphere permitting continuous observation of almost all solar atmosphere 24 hours a day, throughout the year, even during solar events," notes the researcher.

In other words, the coronagraph functions as an artificial Moon, obscuring the solar glare allowing scientists continuously observe its faint outer corona – a feat the real Moon does only during eclipses.

Moreover, it's unique capable of examining eruptions using optical wavelengths, enabling it to determine a CME's temperature and heat energy – key clues that show the intensity of an eruption if it headed our direction.

Readiness for Maximum Activity

In preparation for next year's solar maximum, scientists collaborated analyzing information obtained from one of the largest CMEs that Aditya-L1 has observed recently.

This event began on 13 September 2024 during early hours. The eruption's weight was 270 million tonnes – for comparison that sank Titanic was 1.5 million tonnes.

At origin, its temperature was 1.8 million degrees Celsius with energy equivalent was equivalent to millions of tons of explosives – in comparison nuclear weapons used in Japan were much smaller and 21 kilotons respectively.

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

The asteroid which wiped out prehistoric life on Earth carried enormous energy and when solar peak occurs, there may be eruptions carrying power matching even more than that.

"In my view this eruption we analyzed happened when the Sun was in the normal activity phase. Now this sets the standard for future comparison assessing what is in store during solar maximum occurs," he says.

"The learnings gained will assist in work out protective measures to implement safeguarding spacecraft in near space. Additionally, they'll aid us gain a better understanding of our space environment," he adds.