Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Credit: NASA
On November 6, Parker Solar Probe executed a gravity-assist manoeuvre by flying within 234 miles (376 kilometres) of Venus. This slingshot altered its trajectory, bringing it closer to the sun for further research.
During its closest solar approach, Parker reached within 3.8 million miles (6 million kilometres) of the sun's surface, traveling at nearly 435,000 mph (700,000 km/h), the fastest speed ever achieved by a human-made object.
The probe is studying the corona, the sun’s outer atmosphere, which reaches millions of kelvins—far hotter than the sun’s surface (photosphere), a long-standing scientific puzzle.
Parker revealed that magnetic fields are key to corona heating. Turbulent plasma and magnetic-field interactions, known as "switchbacks," play a significant role in transferring energy to the corona.
These S-shaped magnetic-field kinks form in the photosphere, travel into the corona, and dissipate energy, providing insights into the mechanisms behind the sun’s high temperatures.
The probe uncovered how helium ionization impacts heat retention in the corona, explaining why relatively small amounts of energy suffice to heat this region to extreme temperatures.
Parker is equipped with four instrument suites (FIELDS, WISPR, IS-O-IS, SWEAP) that measure magnetic fields, solar winds, and plasma dynamics to create a comprehensive picture of solar activity.
Understanding the sun’s magnetic fields helps forecast space weather, which can affect satellites, space missions, and Earth-based infrastructure like power grids. These findings enhance our ability to prepare for solar storms.