The Parker Solar Probe has lastly reached the atmosphere of the sun.The NASA spacecraft spent more than three years winding its way by worlds and sneaking gradually closer to our star to find out more about the origin of the solar wind, which pushes charged particles across the solar system.Since solar activity has a large impact on living on Earth, from generating auroras to threatening infrastructure like satellites, researchers want to understand more about how the sun runs to better make predictions about space weather.Related: Whats inside the sun? The surface likewise most likely varies with solar wind activity, which in turn depends on the suns 11-year solar cycle.”Discovering where these protrusions line up with solar activity coming from the surface area can help researchers learn how events on the sun impact the atmosphere and solar wind,” NASA authorities composed in the statement.This illustration reveals our solar system suspended in the “bubble” of protective solar wind understood as the heliosphere. On future flybys, Parker is expected to sneak even better to the sun, coming as low as 8.86 solar radii (3.83 million miles or 6.16 million km) from the suns photosphere, its noticeable surface.Farther away from the sun, the spacecraft has actually been checking out the physics of “switchbacks,” or zig-zag-shaped structures in the solar wind.An artists representation of magnetic switchbacks in the solar wind.”Parker Solar Probes next solar flyby is arranged for late February 2022, although the spacecraft will collect observations for weeks before and after the closest approach.Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace.
The Parker Solar Probe has finally reached the environment of the sun.The NASA spacecraft invested more than 3 years winding its way by worlds and creeping slowly closer to our star to discover more about the origin of the solar wind, which presses charged particles throughout the solar system.Since solar activity has a big effect on living on Earth, from creating auroras to threatening infrastructure like satellites, researchers want to know more about how the sun runs to much better make forecasts about area weather.Related: Whats inside the sun?”Discovering where these protrusions line up with solar activity coming from the surface can help researchers discover how occasions on the sun impact the environment and solar wind,” NASA authorities composed in the statement.This illustration shows our solar system suspended in the “bubble” of protective solar wind understood as the heliosphere. On future flybys, Parker is anticipated to creep even more detailed to the sun, coming as low as 8.86 solar radii (3.83 million miles or 6.16 million km) from the suns photosphere, its visible surface.Farther away from the sun, the spacecraft has actually been exploring the physics of “switchbacks,” or zig-zag-shaped structures in the solar wind.An artists representation of magnetic switchbacks in the solar wind.
