Aditya L-1 Captures The Sun In First-Ever Full-Disk Images

Aditya-L1 spacecraft captured the first-ever full-disk images of the Sun, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) said on Friday evening. Aditya L-1 mission is the India’s first space-based mission to study the Sun and the images are captured by the Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) aboard the spacecraft. These trail-blazing images cover a wavelength ranging from 200 to 400 nanometers.

Sharing the news and images on the social media platform X, ISRO wrote: “They provide pioneering insights into the intricate details of the Sun’s photosphere and chromosphere.”

Aditya-L1 Mission:
The SUIT payload captures full-disk images of the Sun in near ultraviolet wavelengths

The images include the first-ever full-disk representations of the Sun in wavelengths ranging from 200 to 400 nm.

They provide pioneering insights into the intricate details… pic.twitter.com/YBAYJ3YkUy

— ISRO (@isro) December 8, 2023

 SUIT is one of the seven payloads on the Aditya L-1, and it aims to capture the ultraviolet image of the solar photosphere and chromosphere in the said wavelength range by imparting several scientific filters. These photos were taken using eleven different filters, space agency said. Besides, plage, sunspots, and quiet Sun regions which were some of the notable features are revealed through the images. “SUIT observations will help scientists study the dynamic coupling of the magnetized solar atmosphere and assist them in placing tight constraints on the effects of solar radiation on Earth’s climate,” ISRO added.

The Aditya-L1 was launched on September 2 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. The spacecraft will be orbiting at about 1.5 million km from Earth in a halo orbit and it aims to study many factors including solar atmosphere, space weather, magnetic field, and its influence on Earth’s environment. Aditya-L1 was designed and developed by the space agency in collaboration with other Indian research institutes.