Solar Ultra-violet Imaging Telescope (SUIT)

Context: Aditya-L1, has achieved a major scientific breakthrough by capturing the first-ever image of a solar flare ‘kernel’.

Key Highlights of the Observation

• The SUIT payload onboard Aditya-L1 has captured the first-ever image of a solar flare ‘kernel’ in the lower solar atmosphere (photosphere & chromosphere).
• This is the first time such a solar flare has been observed in this wavelength range with such high detail.

Link Between Solar Flare & Energy Deposition

• The observations confirm that the energy released from the flare spreads through different layers of the Sun’s atmosphere.
• A direct correlation was found between localized brightening in the lower atmosphere and the temperature increase in the solar corona (outermost layer of the Sun).

About the SUIT Payload

• SUIT (Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope) is one of the seven scientific payloads onboard Aditya-L1.
• It is designed to observe the Sun’s photosphere and chromosphere in the ultraviolet (UV) wavelength
• Developed by: Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune.

Unique Features of SUIT

• It is the first instrument to observe the Sun in the Near Ultraviolet (NUV) range with such high precision.
• It can capture detailed images of solar eruptions, flares and magnetic field interactions.
• It helps in understanding the connection between the Sun’s lower atmosphere and its outer corona.

Other Scientific Payloads on Aditya-L1

• VELC (Visible Emission Line Coronagraph) – Studies the corona and its dynamics.
• ASPEX (Aditya Solar Wind Particle Experiment) – Analyzes solar wind particles.
• PAPA (Plasma Analyzer Package for Aditya) – Measures charged particles in solar wind.
• SoLEXS (Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer) – Observes X-ray emissions.
• HEL1OS (High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer) – Studies high-energy solar radiation.
• MAG (Magnetometer) – Measures interplanetary magnetic fields.

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