More than 200 solar physicists from India and abroad have come together in Bengaluru this week to discuss research in areas like Solar magnetism, Solar-stellar connection and space weather at an international conference.
The conference on ‘Sun, Space Weather, and Solar-Stellar Connections’ has been organised by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory. The Observatory has been providing invaluable insights into the Sun’s behaviour and its impact on Earth through its repository of photographic images, and was the harbinger of the birth of solar astrophysics in the country.
DST Secretary, Prof. Abhay Karandikar, spoke about initiatives like the digitization of KSO’s historic records, IIA’s significant contribution to Aditya-L1 mission through the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph, and underlined upcoming ventures like the National Large Solar Telescope proposed to be built at Merak, on the banks of Pangong Tso in Ladakh, through a video message. He said that the efforts promise to open new frontiers of discovery in solar astrophysics.
Shri A.S. Kiran Kumar, former ISRO Chairman, and the chair of the Governing Council of IIA, while highlighting the efforts of the solar physics group at IIA during his address at the inaugural, pointed out that ISRO has all the capabilities to help the solar physics research from space and challenged the community to come up with ideas for new instruments that ISRO can launch.
“This conference celebrates the birth and growth of solar astronomy and solar physics in the country. With experts from across the world, it will discuss all aspects of the Sun as well as space weather”, said Prof. Annapurni Subramaniam, Director of IIA, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
Prof. Siraj Hasan, former Director IIA, Prof. Dipankar Banerjee, Director IIST Trivandrum, and other eminent solar astronomers of IIA spoke about the history of solar research in India and the legacy of the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory. The international perspectives of the Observatory were presented by Prof. John Leibacher from the National Solar Observatory, USA who is also a former member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of IIA. He emphasized that the KSO is a rare and scientifically unique facility in the world that exemplified studying the entire Sun as a system, and mentioned the international solar community’s strong support for the initiation of the National Large Solar Telescope as well, at a session conducted by the chairperson of the Solar Physics group of IIA and of the Scientific Organizing Committee (SOC), Prof. S.P. Rajaguru.
The Kodaikanal Solar Observatory (KSO) of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, a cornerstone of Indian astronomy, established in 1899, has been at the forefront of solar research. The observatory’s unique location, coupled with its state-of-the-art equipment, has enabled it to make significant contributions to our understanding of sunspots, solar flares, coronal mass ejections, and other solar phenomena.
The conference is being organized as a testament to KSO’s enduring legacy, between 20–24 January 2025. With a vibrant scientific program put together by the international Scientific Organizing Committee of 20 eminent solar astronomers, with leads from the Solar Physics group of IIA, leading solar physicists from around the globe are discussing the latest advancements in the field and exploring the connections between solar and stellar phenomena. It has attracted 205 participants, half of them being students and a third from outside India.
With themes like Solar magnetism over long time scales, Solar magnetism in high resolution, Energetic phenomena, Solar-stellar connection, and Heliosphere and space weather, the conference features a diverse program of presentations, discussions, and poster sessions, allowing participants to share their latest findings, exchange ideas, foster collaborations, and strengthen international cooperation. A number of talks were also on new and upcoming solar astronomy facilities, including the proposed National Large Solar Telescope in Ladakh.
Apart from the various talks, posters and discussions scheduled for the remainder of the week, a public talk on the sun by Prof. Nat Gopalswamy from NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre, USA, is being hosted at CHRIST University on 23rd January at 5 PM. This talk is aimed primarily at students and is open to the general public.
