NASA’s Parker Probe Sends Closest-Ever Images from Inside the Sun’s Corona

The Parker Solar Probe has in reality completed a ancient milestone in sun exploration. In July 2025, NASA launched the closest-ever photographs of the Sun, taken simply 3.8 million miles from its floor. On Dec. 24, 2024, Parker flew 3.8 million miles from the Sun’s floor, coming into the outer corona. During this move, Parker’s Wide-Field Imager (WISPR) snapped the nearest-ever pictures of the Sun, appearing the Sun’s corona and the sun wind in extraordinary element. These photographs divulge new sun eruptions (coronal mass ejections) and magnetic buildings, transporting us into the Sun’s dynamic surroundings and serving to scientists make stronger house climate forecasts.

Historic Flyby Delivers Unprecedented Solar Views

According to NASA, within the record-breaking Dec. 24, 2024 flyby, Parker’s WISPR snapped the closest-ever photographs of the Sun’s surroundings because the probe skimmed simply 3.8 million miles (6.1 million km) from the big name. NASA launched video and nonetheless frames appearing the Sun’s corona and freshly launched sun wind. The new frames divulge, for the primary time in top answer, options just like the heliospheric present sheet (the magnetic boundary that flips polarity) and collisions of a couple of coronal mass ejections (CMEs). As imaging scientist Angelos Vourlidas notes, the CMEs are “principally piling up on best of each other” in those perspectives.

Insights into Solar Wind and Space Weather

NASA scientists say those photographs mark a big advance in figuring out how the Sun drives house climate. Associate Administrator Nicky Fox notes that Parker’s close-up view shall we us see “the place house climate threats to Earth start,” offering information to seriously make stronger forecasting.

The WISPR photographs additionally ascertain key theories in regards to the sun wind: Parker discovered there are two forms of sluggish wind — one rising from helmet streamer loops and one from coronal holes — serving to pin down their origins. Project scientist Nour Rawafi says fixing this “giant unknown” is now inside of succeed in, with Parker bringing us “nearer than ever to uncovering their origins”. These breakthroughs will lend a hand offer protection to astronauts, satellites and generation from bad sun storms.