Aditya-L1 to study 'solar-maximum' next year: What does it mean?
03 Dec 2025

India's first dedicated solar observatory, Aditya-L1, is gearing up to observe the Sun during its next peak of activity in 2026.

This phase, known as the 'solar maximum,' occurs roughly every 11 years when the Sun's magnetic poles reverse and solar storms intensify.

The mission will be a major milestone for solar research.

Aditya-L1's unique vantage point for solar observation
Strategic location

Aditya-L1 was placed in a 'large halo orbit' around the Earth-Sun Lagrange Point L1 in January 2024.

This position, about 1.5 million kilometers from Earth, provides an uninterrupted view of the Sun without any obstructions or eclipses.

The mission's key instrument, the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC), acts like an 'artificial moon,' hiding the Sun's bright surface and revealing its faint corona to track coronal mass ejections (CMEs) accurately in visible light.

CMEs: A potential threat to Earth's technological infrastructure
Solar storms

As the Sun moves from a quiet phase to an active one, scientists expect a major increase in solar storms and CMEs.

These are huge bubbles of fire from the Sun's corona that carry charged particles weighing up to one trillion kilograms.

They can travel at speeds of over 3,000km/second and reach Earth within 15 hours at maximum speed.

Although CMEs don't directly threaten human life, they can affect life on Earth by creating geomagnetic storms that alter weather.

Aditya-L1's role in understanding solar eruptions
Mission objectives

The main goal of the Aditya-L1 mission is to study CMEs and other solar phenomena. This will help scientists understand the Sun better and prepare for possible impacts on Earth and technological systems in space.

The spacecraft's unique position and advanced instrument suite give it an edge over other missions studying the Sun.

Preparations for the 2026 solar maximum
Future plans

To prepare for the 2026 solar maximum, the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) and NASA jointly studied a massive CME recorded by Aditya-L1.

The event, which occurred on September 13, 2024, had a mass of 270 million tons and an energy equivalent to 2.2 million megatons of TNT.

This 'medium-sized' CME will help scientists anticipate possible scenarios in 2026 and take measures to enhance satellite safety and better understand Earth's surrounding space.