Aditya-L1 gets a close look at eruptions from the sun, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• Aditya-L1 made first spectroscopic observations of a coronal mass ejection (CME) in the visible wavelength range, in collaboration with NASA.
• The Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) payload allowed study of CMEs very close to the sun's surface.
• Scientists estimated the CME's electron density at 370 million electrons per cubic centimetre.
• The observed CME had an energy of approximately 9.4 * 10^21 joules and a mass of nearly 270 million tons.

Detailed Insights:

• VELC's location at the Sun-Earth Lagrangian L1 point provides a continuous, 24/7 view of the sun.
• The initial speed of the observed CME was 264 km/sec, with a temperature of 1.8 million degrees Kelvin.
• Understanding CME parameters close to the sun is crucial for determining the amount of material lost during these events.
• As the sun approaches the maximum activity phase of sunspot cycle 25, more energetic eruptions are anticipated.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Coronal Mass Ejection (CME): A significant release of plasma and magnetic field from the solar corona.
• Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC): A specialized telescope designed to observe the sun's corona in visible light.
• Sun-Earth Lagrangian L1 Point: A gravitationally stable location in space between the Earth and the Sun, ideal for continuous solar observation.