Solar Eclipse 2024: Will ISRO's Aditya-L1 be able to shed light on Sun's secrets?
Aditya L1, designed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), is continuously studying the Sun but will not be able to observe the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. The eclipse, a rare event visible over vast swaths of North America, has sparked excitement, with various events planned to witness the celestial phenomenon.
For the first time in almost a century, the western and northern parts of New York State will experience a total eclipse. The path of totality, a narrow stretch where the Moon obscures the Sun entirely, tracks across cities, captivating the USA.
In its statement about the event, NASA explained, «On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. The sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk.»
NASA is conducting special experiments during the eclipse, including flying research planes to chase the shadow. The main spectacle, when day turns to night, is expected to last only about four minutes.
The Aditya L1 spacecraft, placed in a halo orbit around the Lagrange point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system, continuously views the Sun without any occultation or eclipses. This unique vantage point allows scientists to observe solar activity and its effect on space weather in real-time.
«Aditya L1 spacecraft will not see the solar eclipse as the moon is behind the spacecraft, at the Lagrange Point 1 (L1 point),
