On Dec. 24, 2024, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe traveled closer to the Sun than any spacecraft had before. During this close approach, or perihelion, the spacecraft’s four instruments observed the Sun’s atmosphere from inside. This week, NASA released images collected by the spacecraft’s Wide-Field Imager for Solar Probe (WISPR) instrument.
Since the close approach in late 2024, Parker Solar Probe has performed two more perihelia passes at the same distance on March 22 and June 19, the latter marking the 24th and final perihelion of the spacecraft’s primary mission. Throughout its nearly seven-year mission, the probe has helped scientists better understand the Sun and its solar wind. The latest images add to a wealth of information about our star.