NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has witnessed a massive solar eruption up close and captured the event on camera, a first of its kind. Released by scientists at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, the video features a powerful coronal mass ejection (CME) that occurred last year. CMEs are explosive releases of super-hot plasma from the Sun’s atmosphere, consisting of charged particles that can cause radio blackouts and other disturbances on Earth. NASA stated that this particular CME was one of the most powerful ever recorded.
The Parker Solar Probe, designed to study the Sun, successfully flew through the CME and survived, providing scientists with valuable footage. The spacecraft, known as the fastest ever built, can approach within 4 million miles of the Sun’s surface. Equipped with a custom heat shield and autonomous protection system, the probe is designed to endure extreme temperatures near the Sun.
During this CME, NASA researchers also examined the effects of space dust on the storm. By studying these interactions, scientists hope to improve predictions of space weather. Russ Howard, a physicist at APL, stated that they are beginning to understand how interplanetary dust influences the shape and speed of CMEs.
In addition to capturing the solar eruption, the Parker Solar Probe has given scientists insight into other solar phenomena, such as “solar wind.” This ongoing mission continues to contribute valuable data to the understanding of the Sun and its impact on space weather.
This article was originally published by Business Insider.