Total Solar Eclipse: ISRO's Aditya-L1 will track Sun and observe its behaviour during complete darkness

Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Muskan Arora

Aditya L1 to Monitor Sun

[{"selector":"#anim-b09d15c7-1037-427d-8f19-227180258fc6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, -31.75751447552112%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] India's solar probe Aditya L1 is set to observe the behaviour and rays of the Sun during the total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8.

Alignment of Sun, Moon, and Earth

[{"selector":"#anim-3cd1f37e-9656-4296-b2bb-95d9b315a756 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(7.803850522373532%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] The total solar eclipse will occur when the Sun, Moon, and Earth align in a straight line, causing a moment of complete darkness during the daytime as the Moon completely blocks the Sun.

Four Minutes of Darkness

[{"selector":"#anim-e0743568-da53-4173-9d3f-d4dd1c0f3106 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-18.002362467089192%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] The Sun will remain cloaked for approximately four minutes during the eclipse, allowing for the illumination of its enigmatic outer layer.

ISRO's Maiden Solar Mission

[{"selector":"#anim-72a31921-f27a-4062-b8c6-7a8bda329e60 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-25.278659133494152%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Aditya L1, the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) first solar mission, will track the Sun during the eclipse to study its chromosphere and corona.

Position at Lagrange Point 1

[{"selector":"#anim-c5c77198-353d-45c2-9c2e-6619254900f2 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-22.839845197383504%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Aditya-L1 reached the Lagrange Point 1 earlier this year on January 6, positioning itself 1.5 million kilometres from Earth to observe the Sun.

Instruments Used

The mission will utilize two of its six instruments, the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) and the Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT), to track the Sun during the eclipse.

Visibility of Sun's Corona

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Mission Objectives

[{"selector":"#anim-85389caa-49bb-473d-b2c5-3ac69154ac00 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-28.589589052605092%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Aditya L1 aims to enhance our understanding of solar phenomena, including the solar corona, photosphere, and the impact of solar winds and radiation.

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