ISRO has shared visuals revealing the operational prowess of the Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) on board Aditya L1. This cutting-edge instrument has just marked a significant milestone by successfully capturing comprehensive images of the Sun’s entire disk within the 200-400 nm wavelength range.
SUIT’s Multi-Filter Marvel
Aditya-L1’s Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) has marked a groundbreaking achievement by capturing the initial full-disk images of the Sun in the 200-400 nm wavelength spectrum. Using scientific filters, SUIT focuses on imaging the Sun’s photosphere and chromosphere within this specific wavelength range.
The SUIT payload, activated on November 20, 2023, entered its operational phase following a successful pre-commissioning stage. On December 6, 2023, the telescope recorded its inaugural light science images.
These remarkable visuals, taken through eleven distinct filters, encompass the premier full-disk portrayals of the Sun across wavelengths from 200 to 400 nm, excluding Ca II h.
The Mg II h image captured by SUIT has unveiled noteworthy features such as sunspots, plage, and quiet Sun regions. This imagery provides scientists with groundbreaking insights into the intricate dynamics of the Sun’s photosphere and chromosphere.
Through SUIT observations, researchers aim to delve into the dynamic interplay of the magnetised solar atmosphere, offering crucial constraints on the impact of solar radiation on Earth’s climate.
The Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune, spearheaded the collaborative effort behind SUIT’s development. This partnership brought together entities such as ISRO, the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), the Centre for Excellence in Space Science Indian (CESSI) at IISER-Kolkata, the Indian Institute of Astrophysics Bengaluru, the Udaipur Solar Observatory (USO-PRL), and Tezpur University Assam.
ISRO has also unveiled a captivating 23-second video on its official Aditya-L1 page. Recorded on December 5 by an onboard camera, the video showcases the seamless operation of the SUIT probe’s shutter, capturing the moments of its opening and closing. This pivotal mechanism allows solar radiation to enter the payload and pass through the thermal filters, contributing to the instrument’s intricate observation process.
Aditya L1 – India’s first mission to the sun
Aditya L1 is set to make history as India’s inaugural space-based mission dedicated to studying the Sun. Positioned in a strategic halo orbit around Lagrange point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system, the spacecraft will orbit approximately 1.5 million km from Earth. This unique vantage point offers an unparalleled perspective for in-depth solar observations, marking a significant milestone in India’s space exploration endeavors.
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