NASA's Parker Solar Probe made history on December 24, flying within 6.1 million km of the sun’s surface, the closest any human-made object has ever been.
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe made history on December 24 by flying into the sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona, marking the closest any human-made object has ever come to a star.
The probe flew within 6.1 million km of the sun's surface, a significant achievement in solar research. As the spacecraft reached speeds of up to 692,000 kph, it endured extreme temperatures of nearly 982 degrees Celsius, pushing the limits of its technology.
Dr. Nicholeen Viall, a heliophysicist and Punch Mission scientist, explained, “To get that close, we had to use Venus to have our gravity assist to slow Parker down so that it could get that close. Also, we had to not melt. That's why Parker has this heat shield that holds the instruments at room temperature and keeps the heat of the sun away.”
The Parker Solar Probe, which launched in 2018, has been gradually getting closer to the sun using Venus flybys to adjust its orbit.
On this close flyby, the probe passed through the solar atmosphere for the second time, after its initial entry in 2021, revealing new details about the sun’s corona. “We have never had a human-made object so close to the sun,” Dr. Viall added, highlighting the importance of this mission in studying solar phenomena.
The probe’s mission is especially timely, as it coincides with the solar maximum, a period when the sun is most active, with frequent solar flares and coronal mass ejections. Research astrophysicist Dr. J. Grant Mitchell noted, “We're here at Solar Maximum, which is the time that the sun is the most dynamic... by passing this close to the sun, we're able to observe these explosions close up.”
This proximity allows the probe to capture these powerful solar events in unprecedented detail, offering scientists a unique opportunity to study their origins before they reach Earth.
Houthi attacks target Riyadh amid concerns over Saudi oil supplies, as Iran says it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until its conditions are m...
German voters cast ballots on Sunday in two state elections that could add to the political pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as his governmen...
Iraq has returned restricted airspace across the western part of the country to civilian authorities, ending limits imposed for military operations...
Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy said a Togo-flagged oil tanker was struck while attempting to make an “illegal passage” through the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media said early on Friday.
Saudi civil defence sent an all-clear on Saturday after issuing alerts for a second time for potential danger in Riyadh and the city of Al-Kharj east of the capital, amid an uptick in attacks by Iran-aligned Houthis on the Gulf country.
The European Union will disburse €3.3 billion ($3.8 billion) to Ukraine for missiles and drones, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The U.S. State Department approved a $2.7 billion military sale to Ukraine for air-defence development upgrades, along with related equipment and services, the department said. Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities reported at least 10 people had died in Russian attacks over the last 24 hours.
Houthi attacks target Riyadh amid concerns over Saudi oil supplies, as Iran says it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until its conditions are met and U.S. commitments are implemented, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday.
German voters cast ballots on Sunday in two state elections that could add to the political pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as his government faces growing public frustration and a resurgent far right.
Iraq has returned restricted airspace across the western part of the country to civilian authorities, ending limits imposed for military operations against Islamic State since 2016, the Transport Ministry said.
Denmark and Greenland have moved to reassure the public that their sovereignty will remain intact under a new security agreement with the United States.
World leaders are set to gather at the United Nations General Assembly in New York for several days of high-level debate, with Iran, Ukraine, artificial intelligence (AI) and a range of global crises expected to dominate discussions this week.
Ed Sheeran has broken his silence on the controversy surrounding his U.S. tour, apologising for decisions made after rapper Macklemore was removed from the line-up over his public support for Palestine.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment