Aditya-L1 mission captures first glimpse of Sun's first light

Aditya-L1 mission captures first glimpse of Sun's first light

Image Source: ISRO

ISRO's Hel1OS, part of the Aditya L-1 mission, has taken the first-ever X-ray peek at powerful solar flares. During its initial observation from around October 29, the High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (HEL1OS) on board recorded the sudden brightening of the Sun's atmosphere, known as a solar flare.ISRO refers to the GOES satellite as a "geostationary operational environmental satellite" operated by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It ensures weather forecasting, extreme storm tracking, and meteorological research.

ISRO refers to the GOES satellite as a "geostationary operational environmental satellite" operated by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It ensures weather forecasting, extreme storm tracking, and meteorological research.

The photo was taken using the HEL1OS tool from the Aditya L1 mission. This spectrometer specializes in hard X-rays and covers a broad range of X-ray energy from 10 to 150 keV. Its main task is to examine solar flare events occurring on the Sun.

This accomplishment represents a major advancement in India's capability to examine the powerful release of energy and the acceleration of electrons during the rapid stages of solar flares.

Launched on October 27, 2023, HEL1OS is currently being fine-tuned for accurate measurements and adjustments. When fully functional, it will offer valuable information to scientists about how solar flares form and develop, adding to our knowledge of the intricate workings of the Sun.

The Space Astronomy Group at the U R Rao Satellite Centre, ISRO, Bengaluru, was responsible for developing HEL1OS.

The Aditya-L1 spacecraft is created to observe the outer layer of the Sun, known as the solar corona, from a distance. It also conducts measurements of the solar wind at a point called L1, which is approximately 1.5 million kilometers away from Earth.

This is India's first dedicated space mission for observing the Sun. The mission is focused on studying the Sun from an orbit around L1 and includes seven instruments to examine different layers of the Sun in various wavelengths, from the photosphere and chromosphere to the outermost layer, the corona.

Aditya-L1 Mission:
HEL1OS captures first High-Energy X-ray glimpse of Solar Flares

🔸During its first observation period from approximately 12:00 to 22:00 UT on October 29, 2023, the High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (HEL1OS) on board Aditya-L1 has recorded the… pic.twitter.com/X6R9zhdwM5

— ISRO (@isro) November 7, 2023