YazataAug 12, 2018 07:47 PM (This post was last modified: Aug 12, 2018 08:07 PM by Yazata.)
It launched this morning before dawn from Cape Canaveral, lofted by a ULA Delta Heavy rocket. The thing is destined to approach nearer and nearer to the Sun, continually adjusted into a tighter and tighter orbit by Venus' gravity over 7 years.
Lots of astrophysics there, since eventually it will be flying through the Sun's corona, its outermost atmosphere. It will also be in 'Hot Jupiter' territory, so it will learn what that environment's like. I'm curious what kind of chemistry is likely in that energetic an environment.
"Parker Solar Probe and its instruments will be protected from the Sun's heat by a 4.5-inch-thick, carbon-carbon composite heat shield. The shield's front surface will be able to withstand temperatures outside the spacecraft up to 2,500 degree Fahrenheit."
YazataDec 15, 2021 03:06 AM (This post was last modified: Dec 15, 2021 03:23 AM by Yazata.)
The Parker Solar Probe has arrived at the Sun and they are announcing that it has flown through the Sun's corona, its outer atmosphere, for the first time. (The Sun has a corona?? Why isn't it wearing a mask?)
Interesting observations. The corona is bound to the Sun by the Sun's magnetic field, much like Earth's atmosphere is bound by gravity. The outer boundary of the corona isn't spherical, it's lumpy. And something unexpected: the Sun's solar wind is observed to "switch back" at times, doing a 180 and moving back towards the Sun, before doing another 180 and continuing outwards. They don't know why this happens, but it seems to be associated with convection cells in the glowing hot ball of Solar plasma.
Aug 12, 2018 07:47 PM
(This post was last modified: Aug 12, 2018 08:07 PM by Yazata.)
![[Image: DkZe5f1X0AAWFeN.jpg]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DkZe5f1X0AAWFeN.jpg)
