Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Aditya L1 spacecraft has achieved a major milestone by capturing and transmitting full circular images of the Sun. The spacecraft’s Solar Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) was able to capture these images for the first time in the world at a wavelength of 200 to 400 nanometers close to the Sun.
These images provide detailed information about the surfaces of the Sun’s Photosphere and Chromosphere. According to ISRO, these photographs can provide valuable information that will aid in the study of the effects of the Sun’s surface on approach spacecraft as well as the impact of solar radiation on Earth’s climate.
T. V. Venkateswaran, Senior Scientist at Vigyan Prasar Institute, explained that with this type of telescope, the Sun can be imaged in two ways. One way is to deep image a specific spot on the Sun, while the other way is to capture images of the Sun through different filters. Venkateswaran emphasized the importance of studying the photographs of these layers to better understand the movement of the Sun.
The SUIT telescope, which captured these full-circle photos of the Sun, was made in India as a joint effort led by the Inter-University Space Institute in Pune, Maharashtra. This achievement is a testament to the success of India’s own SUIT telescope.
As for the next steps for the Aditya L1 spacecraft, the spacecraft’s purpose is to explore the Sun and the photographs obtained will aid in the research about the Sun’s magnetic field and atmosphere. Furthermore, other instruments like the SUIT telescope will be deployed in the coming days, and the Plasma Analyzer Package for Aditya (PAPA) will be implemented to gather further information.
The successful capture and transmission of full circular images of the Sun by ISRO’s Aditya L1 spacecraft marks a significant step in our understanding of the Sun and its impact on our planet. The findings from these images will undoubtedly contribute to groundbreaking research in the field of solar science.