Parker Solar Probe

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What is the Parker Solar Probe?

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The Parker Solar Probe is a NASA spacecraft launched to study the outer corona of the Sun and gather data on solar wind and solar energetic particles.

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NGSS.HS-PS4-3

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What is the Alfven point?

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The Alfven point is the location in the solar wind where the flow speed of the solar wind equals the speed of Alfvén waves, marking the point where solar wind particles disconnect from the Sun.

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NGSS.HS-PS2-5

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What is the significance of the Parker Solar Probe's heat shield?

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The heat shield protects the spacecraft from the extreme temperatures of the Sun, allowing it to directly sample the Sun's atmosphere.

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What are coronal mass ejections (CMEs)?

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CMEs are large expulsions of plasma and magnetic field from the Sun's corona, which can affect space weather and technology on Earth.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-3

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What is the expected maximum speed of the Parker Solar Probe?

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The Parker Solar Probe is expected to reach speeds of up to 430,000 miles per hour as it travels through the Sun's upper atmosphere.

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When did the Parker Solar Probe launch?

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The Parker Solar Probe was launched on August 12, 2018.

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What is the primary mission of the Parker Solar Probe?

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The primary mission is to gather data on the Sun's corona, solar wind, and the mechanisms that drive solar activity.

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How close will the Parker Solar Probe get to the Sun?

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The Parker Solar Probe will make multiple close approaches, coming within approximately 4 million miles of the Sun's surface.

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What is solar wind?

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Solar wind is a stream of charged particles released from the upper atmosphere of the Sun, consisting mainly of electrons and protons.

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What role does the Parker Solar Probe play in understanding solar activity?

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The Parker Solar Probe helps scientists understand the processes that drive solar activity, including solar flares and CMEs.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-3