Solar X-ray Monitor on Chandrayaan 2 observes solar flares: ISRO

orbiter of Chandrayaan 2, that has been rotating around Moon, observed a series of small flares from Sun on September 30. This observation was possible with help of X-rays emitted by Sun. orbiter of Chandrayaan 2 uses two instruments to measure such phemena. It was initially installed in ship to measure lunar elemental composition using  X-rays emitted by Sun; however, it has detected solar flares of sun w. As Vikram lander failed to make a soft landing on September 7, Chandrayaan 2 mission launched by Indian Research Organisation (ISRO) has been 98% successful and orbiter of craft continues to revolve around Moon.  

How does Chandrayaan 2 measure solar flares? 

According to an official release by ISRO, “Chandrayaan-2 orbiter utilises X-rays emitted by Sun in a clever way to study elements on lunar surface. Solar X-rays excite atoms of constituent elements on lunar surface. se atoms when de-excited emit ir characteristic X-rays (a fingerprint of each atom). By detecting se characteristic X-rays, it becomes possible to identify various major elements of lunar surface. However, in order to determine ir concentration, it is essential to have simultaneous kwledge of incident solar X-ray spectrum.” 

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Instruments on craft to measure solar emissions 

As per ISRO, Chandrayaan-2 orbiter carries two instruments, Chandrayaan 2 Large Area Soft X-ray Spectrometer (CLASS) and Solar X-ray Monitor (XSM). se instruments are used to measure lunar elemental composition using se instruments. ISRO in its official statement explains, “ CLASS payload detects characteristic lines from lunar surface and XSM payload simultaneously measures solar X-ray spectrum.” 

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What are solar flares? 

Sun’s surface is very active and many violent phemena continuously keep occurring on it. atmosphere of Sun, called corona is also equally active. se activities occurring on Sun’s surface follows an eleven-year cycle, which means, it goes through its 'solar maxima' and 'solar minima' once every eleven years. ISRO explains that “while cumulative emission of solar X-rays emitted over a year varies with solar cycle, se are often punctuated with extremely large x-ray intensity variations over very short periods, few minutes to hours. Such episodes are kwn as solar flares.” 

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