IIA scientists generate Doppler velocity images of the solar corona from Aditya-L1's VELC payload to track CME direction
Scientists at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, reported on 20 October 2026 that they have generated Doppler velocity images of the solar corona using the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) on Aditya-L1, which can show whether coronal mass ejections move towards Earth.
Summary
Scientists at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, have generated Doppler velocity images of the solar corona using data from the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) payload on India's first solar mission, Aditya-L1, as reported on 20 October 2026. The images are expected to show the propagation of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) along the Sun-Earth direction, information not available until now; positive Doppler velocity means plasma moving away from the observer and negative means moving towards it. The data-processing software, developed by Dr V. Muthu Priyal and her team using the Fe XIV 5303 Å green coronal emission line, was published in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series on 16 October 2026. VELC Principal Investigator Prof. R. Ramesh said only VELC can currently produce such images from the L1 point.
Key facts
- Mission
- Aditya-L1 (India's first solar mission)
- Payload
- Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC)
- Institute
- Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru
- Output
- Doppler velocity images of the solar corona
- Use
- Direction of CMEs along Sun-Earth line
- Sign convention
- Positive = moving away from observer; negative = moving towards
- Emission line
- Fe XIV 5303 Å (green coronal line)
- Paper
- ApJ Supplement Series 287, 12 (16 October 2026); software by Dr V. Muthu Priyal's team
- VELC PI
- Prof. R. Ramesh
Practice MCQs 2 questions
Data from which Aditya-L1 payload was used by IIA scientists to generate Doppler velocity images of the solar corona (October 2026)?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC)
Consider the following statements about the Aditya-L1 Doppler velocity images (October 2026): 1. A positive Doppler velocity indicates solar plasma moving towards the observer. 2. The data-processing pipeline is based on the Fe XIV 5303 Å coronal emission line. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 2 only