Today’s Current Affairs: Solar Activity Keeps Researchers Busy at ISRO
As you might’ve heard, there’s a lot of solar activity happening, keeping heliophysicists and aurora watchers on their toes. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has been monitoring the solar storms bombarding Earth and collecting valuable data from ground stations and spacecraft.
ISRO’s observations from the Thumba node of the Indian Network for Space Weather Impact Monitoring showed a significant increase in total electron content on May 11. Meanwhile, the Aditya-L1 solar observatory and the Chandrayaan-2 lunar orbiter captured high-speed solar wind, solar flares, and energetic ion flux during the recent solar frenzy.
With new instruments and missions in place, ISRO is at the forefront of studying the sun and its effects on space weather. The agency’s ground stations and spacecraft are working overtime to gather data for further analysis in the coming days and months.
1. What did ISRO’s Thumba node of the Indian Network for Space Weather Impact Monitoring (INSWIM) record on May 11?
– A. 50 percent increase in total electron content (TEC)
– B. 100 percent increase in total electron content (TEC)
– C. 150 percent increase in total electron content (TEC)
– D. No change in total electron content (TEC)
Answer: B. 100 percent increase in total electron content (TEC)
2. Where is ISRO’s Aditya-L1 solar observatory located?
– A. Mars
– B. Saturn
– C. L1 Lagrange point
– D. Earth’s orbit
Answer: C. L1 Lagrange point
3. Which spacecraft observed high-speed solar wind and high-temperature solar wind plasma during the recent solar activity?
– A. Chandrayaan-2
– B. Hubble Space Telescope
– C. Aditya-L1
– D. SpaceX Dragon
Answer: C. Aditya-L1
4. What did Chandrayaan-2’s Solar X-ray Monitor (XSM) observe during the solar flares?
– A. Decrease in X-ray emissions
– B. X-rays from the solar flares
– C. Increase in gravitational pull
– D. No change in high-energy particle environment
Answer: B. X-rays from the solar flares
What is happening with solar activity recently?
There has been a lot of solar activity recently, causing intense solar storms bombarding Earth with highly charged particles.
What data has the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) collected regarding the solar activity?
ISRO has observed a 100 percent increase in total electron content (TEC) on May 11 compared to the previous day from its ground station. In space, ISRO observed solar activity from the Aditya-L1 solar observatory and Chandrayaan-2 lunar orbiter.
What did ISRO’s Aditya-L1 solar observatory observe during the solar activity?
The Aditya-L1 solar observatory observed high-speed solar wind, high-temperature solar wind plasma, and energetic ion flux during the solar activity. It also observed X-class and M-class solar flares with its X-ray instruments and recorded the flares’ signatures with its magnetometer as the emissions passed through L1.
What solar observations did Chandrayaan-2 make during the recent solar events?
Chandrayaan-2’s Solar X-ray Monitor (XSM) observed X-rays from the solar flares and an increase in the local high-energy particle environment during the recent solar events.
Today's Current Affairs has seen a surge in solar activity, keeping heliophysicists busy and aurora enthusiasts on their toes. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has been closely monitoring the intense solar storms bombarding Earth. Ground stations and spacecraft have reported a 100 percent increase in total electron content (TEC) on May 11, with the Aditya-L1 solar observatory observing high-speed solar wind and solar flares. Chandrayaan-2, the lunar orbiter, also observed solar flares and an increase in high-energy particles. ISRO's efforts will provide researchers with valuable data for analysis in the coming days and months.
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 "A doctor’s rape and murder sparks nationwide protests, leading to investigations into financial irregularities at the hospital.")
 "Karnataka cities face alarming air pollution levels, with PM2.5 soaring six to seven times above WHO guidelines, raising serious health concerns.")
 "Assam’s CM Sarma promises urgent implementation of 52 recommendations to protect indigenous rights, amid tensions over the Assam Accord’s legacy.")