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NASA's Parker Solar Probe to Make Historic Closest Approach to Sun on Christmas Eve

Dec 23, 2024, 11:46 AM

NASA's Parker Solar Probe is set to make a historic closest approach to the sun on December 24, 2024, at 6:53 a.m. EST, Christmas Eve. The spacecraft will come within a record-breaking 3.8 million miles (approximately 6.1 million kilometers) of the sun's surface, closer than any human-made object has ever ventured to a star. Launched in 2018, the probe aims to study the sun's corona and solar wind, despite extreme temperatures that reach 1 million°F outside. Thanks to its 4.5-inch-thick heat shield, the spacecraft maintains an internal temperature of 85°F. During this perihelion, it will travel at speeds up to 430,000 mph (approximately 690,000 km/h), making it the fastest object ever built by humans. Communication with the probe is not possible during the closest approach due to interference from the sun. Scientists hope this mission will provide unprecedented insights into solar phenomena.