Space
Aditya-L1 solar mission’s Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) payload
- Scientists from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) and NASA made the first-ever spectroscopic observations of a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) in the visible wavelength range.
- The observations were made using the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) — a major payload aboard Aditya-L1, India’s first space-based solar observatory.
- These observations are the closest to the Sun’s surface ever made in visible light using a space coronagraph.
Advantages of Aditya-L1
- Aditya-L1 is positioned at the Sun–Earth Lagrangian Point L1, where the Sun never sets — enabling continuous 24-hour observation.
- The VELC allows scientists to study CMEs very close to the Sun’s visible surface, offering unique insights into their early-stage behaviour.
Scientific Significance
- Provides crucial data on mass, energy, and material loss from the Sun during CMEs.
- Helps in understanding space weather phenomena that can affect Earth’s satellites and communications.
- Marks a major milestone for VELC and Indian solar research, as such near-Sun visible spectroscopy was never achieved before.
