India’s Aditya-L1 observatory set to study Sun’s maximum activity phase in 2026

India’s first dedicated solar observatory, Aditya-L1, is preparing to observe the Sun at its next expected peak of activity in 2026, which could represent a turning point for solar research.

Launching in 2023, the mission will for the first time study the Sun’s ‘solar maximum’, a period that occurs approximately every 11 years when the Sun’s magnetic poles reverse and solar storms increase.

As the Sun transitions from relative calm to turbulent activity – a feature of solar maximum – scientists predict a substantial increase in the frequency of solar storms and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Under normal conditions the Sun may emit two to three CMEs per day, but by 2026 this number could increase to ten or more.

CMEs are giant bubbles of fire rising from the Sun’s corona, which transport charged particles weighing up to a trillion kilograms. The speed can exceed 3,000 km (1,864 mi) per second. CMEs reach Earth within 15 hours at maximum speed, and can disrupt satellites, electrical grids, and communications networks.

Although CMEs rarely directly threaten human life, they affect life on Earth by creating geomagnetic storms that alter weather in near space, where there are about 11,000 satellites, including 136 from India.

According to Professor R Ramesh of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), “The most beautiful manifestations of CMEs are the auroras, which are a clear sign that charged particles from the Sun are coming towards Earth.”

What sets Aditya-L1 apart

Aditya-L1Its advantage lies in its convenient location and its state-of-the-art equipment package. The spacecraft was deployed in January 2024 into a ‘large halo orbit’ around the Earth-Sun Lagrange point L1, which is about 1.5 million kilometers from Earth and provides a continuous view of the Sun free from obstructions and eclipses.

Its key instrument, the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC), acts like an ‘artificial moon’, covering it. bright surface of sun Enabling high-precision tracking of CMEs in visible light – revealing very faint coronas.

This knowledge allows scientists to assess the intensity, temperature, and direction of solar eruptions – vital data for predicting future impacts on Earth.

Complementing VELC, devices such as Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT), with soft and hard-X-ray spectrometers, gives a multidimensional perspective of the Sun’s atmosphere – from the photosphere and chromosphere to the corona – across multiple wavelengths.

Why is this important for Earth and satellites?

CMEs may not pose a direct threat to human health – radiation and particles are largely shielded by Earth’s atmosphere – but their impact on technology could be devastating. When a CME hits Earth’s magnetic field, it can create a geomagnetic storm, potentially disrupting satellite operations, connectivity, GPS systems, and power grids.

A large CME with a mass of about 270 million tons and an initial temperature of about 1.8 million degrees Celsius was captured by scientists using Aditya-L1 during its early evolution phase in November 2025.

Although classified as ‘medium sized’, the event served as a rehearsal, helping to calibrate sensors and determine the extent of solar energy release.