On December 31, 2023, India’s Aditya-L1 solar mission recorded a groundbreaking event—a powerful X-class solar flare erupting from the Sun’s surface, accompanied by a rapidly accelerating plasma blob. The Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) onboard Aditya-L1 captured this dramatic sequence in the near-ultraviolet spectrum, offering scientists an entirely new dataset to study solar activity.
Initially moving at a modest 300 kilometers per second, the plasma blob accelerated to a staggering 1,500 kilometers per second—fast enough to circle Earth in just 30 seconds. This marks the first time such an eruption has been observed in near-ultraviolet light, potentially revolutionizing how scientists analyze solar flares and their effects on space weather.
Solar flares are massive energy bursts caused by the sudden release of magnetic energy in the Sun’s atmosphere. These intense explosions emit powerful radiation and eject energetic particles that can disrupt satellite communications and power grids and even pose risks to astronauts. Understanding their origins and behavior is crucial to developing early warning systems that protect Earth’s technology-dependent infrastructure.
While solar flares are commonly studied in X-rays and extreme ultraviolet wavelengths, data from the near-ultraviolet spectrum have been scarce until now. SUIT’s observations will help build a more complete picture of flare evolution, paving the way for better predictive models.
A surprising correlation of the blobs with fluctuations of the magnetic field
On December 31, 2023, the flare originated from Active Region NOAA 13536 at the Sun’s eastern limb, peaking at 21:55 UT. The event was linked to a high-velocity coronal mass ejection (CME) traveling approximately 2,852 kilometers per second. During Aditya-L1’s cruise phase, SUIT operated with limited settings, yet it still captured the plasma blob’s acceleration across its field of view.
By comparing SUIT’s observations with data from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), ESA’s Solar Orbiter, and radio telescopes like RSTN and Stereo-A Waves, scientists confirmed a dynamic interplay of forces at work. The plasma blob showed signs of acceleration tied to magnetic reconnection—a fundamental process in solar eruptions.
SUIT’s ability to track solar events further into the Sun’s atmosphere provides a unique advantage, linking ejections to their origins on the solar surface. The observations validate existing theories and highlight new aspects of solar flare dynamics.
With SUIT’s near-ultraviolet capabilities, scientists have a powerful tool to investigate solar flare radiation beyond traditional wavelengths. As research advances, these insights could lead to improved forecasting models, helping mitigate the impacts of solar storms on Earth’s technology.
