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For India's first solar observatory, the year 2026 will be like no other.

This marks the initial occasion the observatory – that entered into space last year – can observe the Sun when it reaches its maximum activity cycle.

As per scientific data, this occurs roughly every 11 years as the Sun's polarity reverses – a similar Earth scenario would be the planet's poles changing places.

This period marked by intense activity. It sees our star changing from peaceful to violent and features a significant rise in the number of solar eruptions and massive solar flares – enormous clouds of fire that blow out from the solar corona.

Made up of ionized particles, a CME can weigh of billions of tons and reach velocities of up to 3,000km each second. It can head out in any direction, including towards our planet. At top speed, the journey takes a CME 15 hours to traverse the 150 million km between Earth and the Sun.

"In the normal or quiet periods, the Sun launches a few solar eruptions a day," says an astrophysics expert. "In 2026, it's anticipated there will be 10 or more daily."

Studying CMEs ranks among the key scientific objectives of India's first solar observatory. Firstly, because the ejections offer a chance to study the Sun in the center of our planetary system, and two, since events occurring on the solar surface endanger systems on Earth and in orbit.

Impacts on Our Planet and Orbital Systems

Coronal mass ejections seldom present a direct threat to human life, yet they impact our planet through generating geomagnetic storms affecting the weather in near space, where about 11,000 satellites, comprising Indian satellites, are stationed.

"The most spectacular displays of a CME include northern lights, which are direct evidence that charged particles from Sun are travelling toward our planet," the scientist explains.

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

Historical Solar Events

• The most powerful solar storm in history was the 1859 solar superstorm which knocked out telegraph lines across the globe
• In 1989, sections of Quebec's power grid was knocked out, leaving millions without power for hours
• During late 2015, solar activity disturbed air traffic control, causing disruption across Scandinavia and some other European airports
• In February 2022, an ejection had led to dozens of spacecraft failing

With capability to see what happens in the solar atmosphere and spot a solar storm or solar eruption as it happens, measure its heat at origin and track its path, this serves as advanced warning to switch off electrical systems and satellites and move them to safety.

Aditya-L1's Unique Advantage

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

"Aditya-L1's coronagraph has perfect dimensions enabling it to effectively simulate the Moon, fully covering the Sun's photosphere and allowing it continuous observation of almost all solar atmosphere around the clock, throughout the year, including during solar events," says the researcher.

Essentially, this instrument functions as a synthetic eclipse, blocking the solar glare to let researchers continuously observe the dim solar atmosphere – a feat natural eclipses provide only during eclipses.

Moreover, this is the only mission that can study eruptions in visible light, letting it measure eruption heat and heat energy – crucial data that show the intensity a CME would be when traveling toward Earth.

Readiness for Maximum Activity

To prepare for the upcoming solar maximum, scientists collaborated to study the data obtained from one of the largest solar eruption that Aditya-L1 has observed recently.

This event began on 13 September 2024 at 00:30 GMT. Its mass totaled billions of tons – the iceberg that struck the ship weighed much less.

At origin, the heat reached extreme levels with energy equivalent was equivalent to millions of tons of explosives – in comparison nuclear weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were much smaller in scale each.

Even though the numbers seem incredibly large, the scientist describes it as a "medium-sized" one.

The asteroid which wiped out prehistoric life on our planet was 100 million megatons and during the Sun's maximum activity cycle, there may be CMEs carrying power equal to greater levels.

"I consider the CME we analyzed to have occurred when the Sun of typical solar activity. Now this sets the benchmark that we'll be using to evaluate what to expect during solar maximum arrives," he says.

"The learnings gained will help us work out the countermeasures to be adopted safeguarding spacecraft in near space. Additionally, they'll aid achieving a better understanding of near-Earth space," he concludes.