Total Solar Eclipse: Reason why Aditya L1 will not be able to see it

The first Solar Eclipse of the year 2024 is here, and this will be the longest Total Solar Eclipse in the last 5 decades. However, Aditya L1 will not be able to witness this solar phenomenon because of its position in the solar system. Here’s why,

On 8th of April 2024, a total solar eclipse is ready to be witnessed across three countries, Canada, America and Mexico. It will supposedly extend up to 180 km across the three continents and is known to last about two and a half hours. But the totality would only last for about 4 minutes.

"The duration of totality will be up to 4 minutes and 27 seconds, almost double that of The Great American Eclipse of August 21, 2017" according to the Great American Eclipse

A Total Solar Eclipse occurs when the Moon passes by really closely to the Earth and comes between the Sun and the Earth. Due to its proximity to the Earth, the size of the Moon appears larger and it completely covers the solar plate. Due to this, the sun's rays do not reach the earth for some time and darkness prevails. However, some rare sights are seen during this period, including a clear view of the Sun's corona. Due to the hiding of the Sun, other planets of the solar system present near it become visible to the naked eye.

However, Aditya L1, which is a spacecraft designed and sent to space by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and various other organisations in order to study the Sun, will not be able to capture this event. This is because the satellite has been installed in space at such a position where it can observe and study the Sun 24/7 without any obstruction.

Indian scientists have installed the satellite at a position called Lagrange Point 1 (L1 Point), from where nothing can block the satellite’s view of the Sun. In simple words, the placement of Aditya L1 far ahead to that of the Moon and the Moon's shadow cannot reach there. Therefore, the longest solar eclipse will be invisible for the satellite.

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