The study, titled 'Unraveling the Secrets of the Lower Solar Atmosphere: One Year of Operation of the Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) on board Aditya-L1', was led by Rahul Gopalakrishnan and a team of researchers. It examines the telescope's operational performance and the scientific observations collected during its first year.
Aditya-L1 was launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on September 2, 2023, becoming India's first dedicated space-based solar observatory. The spacecraft reached its designated halo orbit around the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 1 (L1) on January 6, 2024, at a distance of approximately 1.5 million kilometres from Earth.
Its position at L1 provides a largely uninterrupted view of the Sun, without the regular interruptions caused by Earth's shadow or eclipses. The mission aims to help scientists understand how the Sun's outer atmosphere is heated, how solar flares and massive eruptions of material originate, and how these activities influence space weather. Such disturbances can potentially affect satellites, communication networks and power systems on Earth.
SUIT is one of the seven scientific instruments aboard Aditya-L1. It captures images of the Sun in near-ultraviolet light, covering wavelengths between 200 and 400 nanometres. These observations allow researchers to examine solar features that are not easily studied through visible-light imaging.
The instrument was switched on November 20, 2023, and captured its first scientific images on December 6, while the spacecraft was still travelling towards L1. Its ultraviolet observations provide insights into the Sun's photosphere and chromosphere, two atmospheric layers that offer important clues about solar activity.
The research paper documents SUIT's calibration, routine maintenance, operating procedures and observations throughout its first year. It also highlights notable solar features and events recorded by the instrument during this period.
Studying activity in the Sun's lower atmosphere is important for understanding how solar disturbances develop and evolve into larger eruptions. By tracing these processes, scientists can gain a better understanding of solar activity and its potential influence on space weather, including the risks posed to technology operating around Earth.
With a planned mission life of five years, Aditya-L1 will continue collecting solar observations through its seven scientific instruments. The data gathered over the mission's operational period is expected to help scientists develop a more comprehensive understanding of the Sun, its atmospheric activity and its influence on Earth's space environment.
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