Global Solar scientists gather in Kerala for ISRO-ESA Heliophysics workshop

A five-day international heliophysics workshop jointly organised by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) is currently underway in Thiruvananthapuram, bringing together leading solar scientists from India and abroad.

The workshop focuses on maximising the scientific potential of three major solar missions India’s Aditya-L1 , ESA’s Solar Orbiter , and Proba-3 whose combined observations offer an unprecedented, multi-perspective view of the Sun and its influence across the heliosphere.

According to ISRO, around 200 participants , including solar and heliophysics experts, researchers and students, are attending the event. This includes approximately 50 international participants from Europe and other countries , alongside about 150 Indian scientists and scholars .

Aditya-L1, India’s first dedicated solar observatory, is positioned at the Lagrange Point 1 (L1) , about 1.5 million km from Earth, where it continuously observes the Sun without interruptions caused by eclipses. The mission studies the solar atmosphere, solar winds, magnetic fields and solar eruptions using a suite of onboard instruments.

ESA’s Solar Orbiter complements these observations by approaching closer to the Sun and observing it from varying angles, including the Sun’s polar regions. Meanwhile, Proba-3 is designed to demonstrate precision formation flying between two spacecraft to create an artificial solar eclipse, allowing detailed study of the Sun’s faint outer atmosphere, known as the corona .

ISRO said the complementary orbital configurations of the three missions enable scientists to observe solar phenomena simultaneously from different perspectives, something not possible with individual missions operating alone.

Heliophysics is the scientific study of the Sun and its extended influence throughout the solar system, including the solar wind, planetary magnetospheres and space weather. The Sun constantly emits streams of charged particles and magnetic energy that interact with Earth’s atmosphere and magnetic field.

Understanding these processes is crucial because solar storms and eruptions can disrupt satellite communications, GPS navigation, power grids, aviation systems and even pose radiation risks to astronauts. Advances in heliophysics help improve space weather forecasting , enabling better protection of critical technological infrastructure and space-based assets.

A key highlight of the workshop is a series of hands-on data analysis sessions , where participants receive practical training on accessing, processing and integrating datasets from Aditya-L1, Solar Orbiter and Proba-3. These sessions aim to equip young researchers with the skills needed to conduct advanced, cross-mission solar studies.

The scientific programme spans multiple areas of solar and heliospheric science, including solar magnetic activity, coronal dynamics, solar wind acceleration and Sun-Earth interactions.

ISRO said the workshop serves as an important platform to strengthen ISRO-ESA scientific collaboration and to foster long-term partnerships among researchers working in solar and heliophysics research.

“By integrating observations from these flagship missions, the ISRO-ESA Heliophysics Workshop aims to advance our understanding of the Sun and its influence on the heliosphere, paving the way for impactful future joint studies and coordinated observation campaigns,” the space agency said.

The workshop is expected to contribute significantly to future international efforts in space weather research and solar science, reinforcing India’s growing role in global heliophysics research.