On August 12, 2018 the Parker Solar Probe was launched. The mission of this probe is to investigate activity in the Sun’s corona in order to provide us with information that can help us understand more about the star and Earth’s connection to it. Analyzing the data being sent back will allow scientists to potentially forecast different space-weather events, in addition to studying what makes the corona hotter than the surface, and the effects this has on Earth and the other planets of our Solar System.

The spacecraft will travel closer to the Sun than any other spacecraft ever has, and it was made to tolerate the extreme conditions, such as heat and radiation, that it will face during its journey. The probe has already completed its first orbit as of January 19, 2019, and is expected to orbit the Sun 23 more times. The data that has already been sent back has given scientists clues about things different phenomena that they would’ve never expected. Predictions are great, but it’s always better to get information straight from the source.

You can find more information about the probe and the mission here!