Nasa's Parker Solar Probe will blast by the Sun at an incredible 435,000 mph on December 24 of next year which is expected to be a pivotal point in space exploration history.Relative to our star,...
This says the closest we’ve gotten so far is 4.51million miles away.
Given the highest melting point of any material we have use of right now is at least 1500°C below the surface temperature of the Sun, I do wonder how close we’ll be able to get equipment to the surface. 3.8 million miles is about 0.04AU, which - on an astronomical scale - is nothing.
Edit: I think I worked out a scale.
Reducing the size of the probe down to approximately the width of a human hair, you’d have to launch that tiny spec eastbound from Vancouver to Phnom Penh and get within 5km of the city.
This says the closest we’ve gotten so far is 4.51million miles away.
Given the highest melting point of any material we have use of right now is at least 1500°C below the surface temperature of the Sun, I do wonder how close we’ll be able to get equipment to the surface. 3.8 million miles is about 0.04AU, which - on an astronomical scale - is nothing.
Edit: I think I worked out a scale.
Reducing the size of the probe down to approximately the width of a human hair, you’d have to launch that tiny spec eastbound from Vancouver to Phnom Penh and get within 5km of the city.