NASA's Parker Solar Probe Makes Record Closest Sun Approach at 3.8 Million Miles on Christmas Eve

Dec 24, 2024, 12:46 PM

NASA's Parker Solar Probe made history on December 24 at 6:40 am EST by making its closest-ever approach to the Sun, passing within 3.8 million miles (6.1 million kilometers) of the solar surface—a proximity more than seven times closer than any previous mission. Launched from Florida on August 12, 2018, the spacecraft is the fastest human-made object, hurtling around the Sun at speeds exceeding 430,000 miles per hour (692,000 kilometers per hour). The probe entered the Sun's outer atmosphere, or corona, enduring temperatures over 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit (930 degrees Celsius) thanks to its advanced heat shield. This unprecedented mission aims to "touch" the Sun to provide scientists with detailed observations of solar phenomena, enhancing our understanding of the star's impact on space weather and technology on Earth.