India’s first dedicated space based solar mission, Aditya-L1, has made a ground-breaking observation as one of its scientific payloads has captured the first-ever image of a solar flare ‘kernel’ in the lower solar atmosphere.

The Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) payload has captured the image kernel in the lower solar atmosphere, namely the photosphere and the chromosphere.

Scientific Importance

• Unprecedented Resolution

The first ever observation of solar flare brightening in the Near Ultraviolet (NUV) range (200-400 nm).

• Energy Distribution

Confirms how flare energy spreads through different layers of the Sun’s atmosphere.

• Temperature Linkage

Directly related to an increase in plasma temperature in the solar corona with regard to the localized brightening in the lower solar atmosphere.

Mission Overview

Aditya-L1 is a satellite dedicated to the comprehensive study of the Sun. It has 7 distinct payloads developed, all developed indigenously. Five by ISRO and two by Indian academic institutes in collaboration with ISRO.

Launch Date: September 2, 2023
Positioning Orbital: Aditya L1 was really placed in a halo orbit around the Earth Sun Lagrange Point L1 on January 6, 2024.