These Are The Closest-ever Images Of The Sun From Parker Solar Probe's Historic Flyby

NASA's Parker Solar Probe made history pinch nan closest-ever attack to nan sun past December, and we're yet getting a look astatine immoderate of nan images it captured. The space agency released a timelapse of observations made utilizing Parker's Wide-Field Imager for Solar Probe (WISPR) while it passed done nan sun's corona connected December 25, 2024, revealing up adjacent really star upwind acts soon aft it's released. The probe captured these images astatine conscionable 3.8 cardinal miles from nan star surface. To put that into perspective, a NASA video explains, "If Earth and nan sun were 1 ft apart, Parker Solar Probe was astir half an inch from nan sun."

The probe sewage an unprecedented position of star upwind and coronal wide ejections (CMEs) during nan approach, which could beryllium invaluable for our knowing of abstraction weather. "We are witnessing wherever abstraction upwind threats to Earth begin, pinch our eyes, not conscionable pinch models," said Nicky Fox, subordinate administrator, Science Mission Directorate astatine NASA Headquarters. After completing its December flyby, nan Parker Solar Probe matched its grounds region from nan aboveground successful consequent approaches successful March and June. It'll make its adjacent walk connected September 15.