NASA's Parker Solar Probe to Make Closest-Ever Approach to Sun at 3.8 Million Miles on December 24, Traveling at 430,000 mph

Dec 23, 2024, 08:45 AM

NASA's Parker Solar Probe is set to make its closest-ever approach to the Sun on December 24, 2024, coming within 3.8 million miles (approximately 6.1 million kilometers) of the solar surface. This unprecedented flyby will occur at a speed of 430,000 mph, allowing the probe to enter 'uncharted territory' as it studies the Sun's corona and solar wind. Launched on August 12, 2018, the Parker Solar Probe aims to gather crucial data about solar phenomena, despite facing extreme temperatures that could reach 1,800°F during its mission. This historic event marks a significant milestone in space exploration, as no human-made object has ever ventured this close to the Sun before.