First light data from the Parker solar probe

First light data from the Parker solar probe

After a month's mission, NASA's Solar probe Parker sent the first light data from each of the four toolkits. These early observations are not yet considered major for scientific reviews. The probe must come closer to the Sun and prove that each instrument functions well. The tools work in tandem to measure the electric and magnetic fields of the sun, particles, the solar wind, and also to obtain images of the environment around the spacecraft.

The specific image shows the first light of the WISPR toolkit. The right side (internal telescope) is endowed with a field of view of 40 degrees with a right edge of 58.5 degrees from the center of the sun. The bright object is Jupiter. The left side (outer telescope) covers a field of view of 58 degrees and extends up to 160 degrees from the sun. Here you can see the Milky Way with the galactic center. There is a parallax of 13 degrees in the visible position of the sun.

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