Astronomy Picture Of The Day: NASA's Parker Solar Probe successfully completed its 26th close approach (perihelion) to the Sun

 

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NASA's Parker Solar Probe successfully completed its 26th close approach (perihelion) to the Sun on December 13, http://2025.It skimmed just 3.8 million miles (approximately 6.2 million kilometers) from the Sun's surface, dipping deep into the solar corona while enduring intense heat and radiation. As expected during such close passes, the probe operated autonomously and was temporarily out of contact with Earth.Mission controllers at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory received a beacon signal shortly after, confirming the spacecraft is healthy and all systems are nominal. It has begun downlinking the valuable science data collected.During this flyby, Parker matched its own records:Closest distance: 3.8 million miles (6.2 million km) Top speed: ~430,000 mph (687,000 km/h) Making it once again the fastest human-made object ever.This wasn't a new record-breaking approach (the absolute closest was set in late 2024 at slightly under 6.1 million km), but it equaled the probe's ongoing orbital extremes as it continues gathering unprecedented data on the solar wind, coronal heating, and space weather phenomena.The mission is thriving in its extended phase, with more perihelions planned ahead. Incredible engineering allowing us to "touch the Sun" repeatedly!