Parker Solar Probe Sends First Set of Images

NASA's exclusive mission for the exploration of the Sun, the Parker Solar Probe, has sent some images from its path. The images sent by the probe have excited the scientists for the future results of the mission. These images depict the proper working of the different instruments connected to the probe.
src:nasa

NASA had launched a space probe with some unmatched properties to disclose the hidden secrets of the Sun. The Parker Solar Probe was launched on 12 August, 2018 with an aim to reveal the cause of the formation of the solar wind and the corona.

The high quality images sent by the probe were a basic testing done before the actual exam of the probe when it reaches the Sun. These images show the proper working of all the equipments onboard the probe.
"All instruments returned data that not only serves for calibration,but also captures glimpses of what we expect them to measure near the Sun to solve the mysteries of the solar atmosphere, the corona.", said Nour Raouafi, Parker Solar Probe scientist at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab in Laurel, Maryland.

Images captured by the Solar Probe src:nasa

The different equipments onboard the probe which will explore the Sun are-

1.WISPR (Wide field Imager for Solar Probe)

This is a high-tech camera used for taking the images of the Sun and its atmosphere. The imager will provide the glimpse of the Solar Wind and will help the scientists to study the properties of it. The shutter for the the instrument was exposed to light on 9 September to take the imagery. The probe takes its direction from the constellations present in the Milky Way galaxy and will change its direction on reaching the Sun.

2.ISOIS (Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun)

ISOIS data src:nasa

It measures the high energy particles associated solar activity like flares and coronal ejections. The instrument comprises of Energetic Particle Instruments, one is EPI-Hi used for measurement of high energy particles and the other EPI-Lo used for measurement of particles in the lower energy spectrum.

3.FIELDS 

src:nasa

This instrument has been eqipped to study the electric and magnetic field of the corona which would help in understanding the unusual temperature behaviour in it. The FIELDS sensors consists of 4 two-metre electric field antennas, 3 magnetometres and 1 shorter elctric field antenna. These sensors had been deployed soon after the launch and were successful in recording the radio bursts from the solar flares right there.  

4.SWEAP (Solar Wind Electrons Alphas and Protons)

src:nasa

The SWEAP, as its name suggests, is used for measuring the solar wind. The instrument consists of various other parts such as two Solar Probe Analyzers and a Solar Probe Cup. These collectively work to measure the solar wind and help in determining the reason behind the abnormality of the temperature on and near the Sun.


SWEAP data src:nasa
Thus NASA's probe continues to work well and good as for now. So we may observe various new magnificent images of the Sun in the near future.


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