🔗 Share this article

For India's first solar observatory, 2026 is expected to be truly unique.

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

As per scientific data, this occurs approximately once every 11 years when the Sun's polarity reverses – a similar Earth scenario could be the planet's poles changing places.

This period of great turbulence. It sees our star changing from peaceful to violent and is marked by a significant rise in the frequency of solar storms and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) – massive bubbles of plasma that blow out from the solar corona.

Made up of ionized particles, a coronal mass ejection can weigh up to a trillion kilograms and can attain velocities of up to 3,000km each second. It can travel in any direction, including towards the Earth. At top speed, it would take a CME about half a day to cover the vast distance Earth-Sun distance.

"During typical or low-activity times, the Sun launches two to three CMEs daily," says a leading scientist. "In 2026, it's anticipated them to be 10 or more each day."

Researching coronal mass ejections ranks among the most important scientific objectives of India's first solar observatory. Firstly, as these eruptions provide an opportunity to study the Sun in the center of our solar system, and secondly, because activities occurring on the Sun threaten infrastructure on Earth and in space.

Effects on Our Planet and Orbital Systems

Coronal mass ejections seldom present a direct threat to human life, yet they impact our planet through generating magnetic disturbances affecting conditions in Earth's vicinity, where about thousands of spacecraft, comprising Indian satellites, are stationed.

"The most spectacular displays of a CME include northern lights, being a clear example that solar particles from Sun journey toward our planet," the expert clarifies.

"But they can also cause electronic systems on a satellite malfunction, knock down electrical networks and disrupt meteorological and telecom spacecraft."

Past Solar Events

• The most powerful solar event in history occurred during the 1859 solar superstorm that disabled communication systems worldwide
• In 1989, sections of Quebec's power grid failed, leaving millions without power for hours
• In November 2015, solar storms disrupted air traffic control, causing disruption in Sweden and some other European air hubs
• Recently in 2022, an ejection caused 38 commercial satellites failing

If we are able to observe what happens on the Sun's corona and spot a solar storm or a coronal mass ejection in real time, record its temperature at origin and watch its path, it can work as advanced warning to shut down power grids and spacecraft and move them to safety.

Aditya-L1's Unique Advantage

There are other solar missions watching our star, Aditya-L1 holds an edge over others when it comes to studying the solar atmosphere.

"The instrument has perfect dimensions that lets it effectively simulate the Moon, fully covering the Sun's photosphere and allowing it an uninterrupted view of nearly the entire of the corona 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, even during solar events," notes the researcher.

In other words, the coronagraph acts like a synthetic eclipse, blocking the solar glare allowing researchers continuously observe its faint outer corona – something the real Moon provide only during specific moments.

Additionally, this is the only mission that can study eruptions in visible light, letting it measure eruption heat and thermal output – key clues indicating the intensity a CME would be when traveling our direction.

Readiness for Peak Period

To prepare for next year's peak solar activity period, researchers collaborated analyzing information obtained from one of the largest CMEs that Aditya-L1 has recorded until now.

This event began in September 2024 during early hours. Its mass was 270 million tonnes – for comparison that sank Titanic was 1.5 million tonnes.

At origin, its temperature reached extreme levels with energy equivalent comparable to millions of tons of TNT – in comparison the atomic bombs used in Japan were 15 kilotons and 21 kilotons each.

Even though these figures make it sound incredibly large, the expert classifies it as a moderate event.

The asteroid which wiped out the dinosaurs on our planet carried enormous energy and during the Sun's maximum activity cycle, we could see eruptions with energy content equal to greater levels.

"I consider the CME we analyzed to have occurred during periods was in the normal activity phase. Now this sets the benchmark that we'll be using to evaluate what to expect during solar maximum occurs," he says.

"The learnings gained will assist in developing protective measures to be adopted to protect satellites in orbit. Additionally, they'll aid us gain a better understanding of near-Earth space," he adds.