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Parker Probe Flies Through Solar Coronal Mass Ejection

NASA Parker Solar Probe

On September 5, 2023 the Parker Solar Probe traveled through a solar Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) and not only survived but also saw the CME vacuum up interplanetary dust. This helps prove a theory about the interactions between the sun and interplanetary dust. And it helps scientists learn more about how space weather works.

CMEs are immense eruptions from the Sun’s outer atmosphere, or corona, that help drive space weather, which can endanger satellites, disrupt communications and navigation technologies, and even knock out power grids on Earth.

The NASA article includes a GIF showing what the probe camera saw as it traveled through the CME.

Source: https://blogs.nasa.gov/parkersolarprobe/2023/09/15/parker-observes-powerful-coronal-mass-ejection-vacuum-up-interplanetary-dust/

Parker Solar Probe Website: https://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/parker-solar-probe

Parker Solar Probe Videos: https://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/parker-solar-probe-videos

5 Parker Probe Discoveries Video: https://www.youtube.com/embed/ReQAUocScw0?si=bNdcTxENfSQJakRd