India’s Aditya L1 satellite misses solar eclipse phenomenon despite continuous Sun monitoring

In an intriguing twist of celestial mechanics, India’s pioneering space-based solar observatory, Aditya L1, will not observe the total solar eclipse occurring today, despite its dedicated mission to continuously study the Sun. This solar eclipse, casting its shadow across large regions of North America, stands out as a rare celestial event, drawing significant public and scientific interest.

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has placed Aditya L1 in a unique position at the Lagrange point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system, approximately 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. This strategic location allows the satellite an uninterrupted view of the Sun, enabling 24/7 monitoring, particularly crucial for studying solar activities and their impact on space weather. Built at a cost of ₹400 crore, Aditya L1 represents a significant milestone in India’s space research, marking the country’s first dedicated mission to study the Sun.

Despite its comprehensive capabilities, Aditya L1 will miss the total solar eclipse visible from Earth today. “Aditya L1 spacecraft will not see the solar eclipse as the moon is behind the spacecraft, at the L1 point, the eclipse that is visible on Earth doesn’t have much significance at that location,” explained ISRO chairman S. Somanath. This positioning ensures that the satellite’s observation of the Sun remains unobstructed by the Moon, a critical factor for continuous solar monitoring.

The solar eclipse has generated widespread excitement across the USA, with the phenomenon being particularly notable in western and northern New York State, experiencing its first total eclipse in nearly a century. The path of totality, where the Moon completely obscures the Sun, has spurred numerous events and experiments, including skydiving and special flights to capture the spectacle. NASA, too, is actively involved, deploying research planes to chase the eclipse’s shadow and conducting several other experiments.

Despite the Aditya L1 satellite’s inability to capture the eclipse, the event remains a focal point for scientific research. Dr. Dipankar Banerjee, a solar physicist with the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIAP) in Bengaluru, highlights the opportunity for ground-based experiments in Dallas, Texas, during the eclipse, which will be compared with data from Aditya L1. This collaboration underscores the global effort in understanding solar phenomena and their effects on Earth.

Aditya L1 is equipped with seven payloads designed to observe the Sun’s various layers and to conduct in-situ studies of particles and fields at L1. This includes the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC), which creates an artificial solar eclipse to study the Sun’s corona. Nigar Shaji, the Project Director for Aditya L1, assures that the eclipse does not alter solar conditions but provides a unique observation opportunity, aligning ground-based observations with those from Aditya L1.

As excitement builds around the solar eclipse, NASA issues a reminder on the importance of eye safety. Observing the Sun without specialized protection can result in severe eye damage, a caution that underscores the significance of proper viewing equipment during such astronomical events.