
Skimming the Sun, probe sheds light on weather threats
Captured by the Parker Solar Probe during its closest approach to our star starting on December 24, 2024, the images were recently released by Nasa and are expected to deepen our understanding of space weather and help guard against solar threats to Earth.
"We have been waiting for this moment since the late Fifties," Nour Rawafi, project scientist for the mission at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, said.
Previous spacecraft have studied the Sun, but from much farther away.
Parker was launched in 2018 and is named after the late physicist Eugene Parker, who in 1958 theorised the existence of the solar wind — a constant stream of electrically charged particles that fan out through the solar system.
The probe recently entered its final orbit where its closest approach takes it to just 3.8 million miles from the Sun's surface — a milestone first achieved on Christmas Eve 2024 and repeated twice since on an 88-day cycle.
To put the proximity in perspective: if the distance between Earth and the Sun measured one foot, Parker would be hovering just half an inch away.
Its heat shield was engineered to withstand up to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit (1,370 degrees Celsius) — but to the team's delight, it has only experienced around 2,000F (1090C) so far, revealing the limits of theoretical modelling.
Remarkably, the probe's instruments, just a yard behind the shield, remain at little more than room temperature.
The spacecraft carries a single imager, the Wide-Field Imager for Solar Probe (WISPR), which captured data as Parker plunged through the Sun's corona, or outer atmosphere.
Stitched into a seconds-long video, the new images reveal coronal mass ejections (CMEs) — massive bursts of charged particles that drive space weather — in high resolution for the first time.
"We had multiple CMEs piling up on top of each other, which is what makes them so special," Rawafi said. "It's really amazing to see that dynamic happening there." Such eruptions triggered the widespread auroras seen across much of the world last May, as the Sun reached the peak of its 11-year cycle.
Another striking feature is how the solar wind, flowing from the left of the image, traces a structure called the heliospheric current sheet: an invisible boundary where the Sun's magnetic field flips from north to south.
It extends through the solar system in the shape of a twirling skirt and is critical to study, as it governs how solar eruptions propagate and how strongly they can affect Earth.
Space weather can have serious consequences, such as overwhelming power grids, disrupting communications and threatening satellites.
As thousands more satellites enter orbit in the coming years, tracking them and avoiding collisions will become increasingly difficult — especially during solar disturbances, which can cause spacecraft to drift slightly from their intended orbits.
Rawafi is particularly excited about what lies ahead, as the Sun heads towards the minimum of its cycle, expected in five to six years.
Historically, some of the most extreme space weather events have occurred during this declining phase — including the infamous Halloween Solar Storms of 2003, which forced astronauts aboard the International Space Station to shelter in a more shielded area.
"Capturing some of these big, huge eruptions... would be a dream," he said.
Parker still has far more fuel than engineers initially expected and could continue operating for decades — until its solar panels degrade to the point where they can no longer generate enough power to keep the spacecraft properly oriented.
When its mission does finally end, the probe will slowly disintegrate — becoming, in Rawafi's words, "part of the solar wind itself."
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Times of Oman
a day ago
- Times of Oman
ISRO to launch NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite on July 30
New Delhi: The Indian Space Research Organisation on Monday said that it will launch the NISAR, the first joint Earth observation satellite by ISRO and NASA, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh on July 30 at 17:40 IST. According to ISRO, the launch of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite will mark a milestone in over a decade of collaboration between the two space agencies. Additionally, ISRO stated that the satellite would provide high-resolution, day-and-night, all-weather data by scanning the entire world every 12 days, identifying minute variations in the Earth's surface, such as vegetation dynamics, ice sheet shifts, and ground deformation. "On July 30, 2025 at 17:40 IST, ISRO's GSLV-F16 will launch NISAR, the first joint Earth observation satellite by ISRO & NASA, from Sriharikota. NISAR will scan the entire globe every 12 days, providing high-resolution, all-weather, day-and-night data. It can detect even subtle changes in Earth's surface--like ground deformation, ice sheet shifts, and vegetation dynamics," ISRO stated in a post on X. "The mission will support many critical applications, including sea ice monitoring, ship detection, storm tracking, soil moisture changes, surface water mapping, and disaster response. A milestone in over a decade of collaboration between ISRO & NASA/JPL," it added. According to ISRO, the NISAR satellite, weighing 2,392 kg, will be injected into a 743 km Sun-synchronous orbit with an inclination of 98.40 degrees. Equipped with dual-frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar--NASA's L-band and ISRO's S-band--NISAR features a 12-metre unfurlable mesh reflector antenna integrated into ISRO's modified I3K satellite bus. Utilising SweepSAR technology for the first time, the satellite will offer a 242 km swath with high spatial resolution, enabling comprehensive Earth observation. "NISAR, weighing 2392 kg, is a unique Earth observation satellite and the first satellite to observe the Earth with a dual-frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (NASA's L-band and ISRO's S-band), both using NASA's 12m unfurlable mesh reflector antenna, integrated to ISRO's modified I3K satellite bus. NISAR will observe Earth with a swath of 242 km and high spatial resolution, using SweepSAR technology for the first time," ISRO stated in a press release. NISAR's ability to provide high-resolution, all-weather data every 12 days will support critical applications, from tracking climate change impacts to aiding disaster management. "The satellite will scan the entire globe and provide all weather, day & night data at 12-day interval and enable a wide range of applications. NISAR can detect even small changes in the Earth's surface, such as ground deformation, ice sheet movement and vegetation dynamics. Further applications include sea ice classification, ship detection, shoreline monitoring, storm characterisation, changes in soil moisture, mapping & monitoring of surface water resources and disaster response," the release added.


Muscat Daily
2 days ago
- Muscat Daily
Extra Toppings: Heartbeat of cinema
From the deserts to F1 circuit – this 'extra topping' added a unique shine to the big screen. 'We're all co-actors. Each person, even the ones in the shadows, add their own sheen to the final masterpiece,' says Yousuf al Housni who played an 'extra' in the latest Hollywood blockbuster F1 Muscat – In anything grand we often forget the 'extras'… Extra cheese always adds more flavour to pizza, extra leg space adds comfort in a long flight and an extra rose in a bouquet adds an extra smile from one's beloved. Extras add life and base to grandeur. The same note goes to the extra actors in movies. They act as the foundation of every war, disaster or romance on the silver screen. Without extras, even the best frames or best methodical acts would fall apart. Such is the story of a 'junior' actor from Oman, Yousuf al Housni. Movies are a world of glamour and power. People feel proud to be part of it in some small way. Yet there are many like the extras who feel apprehensive to say that. Often people ridicule or pass sly smirks. Yet for Omani actor Yousuf al Housni, being an extra was an honour — vocal and bold in stating that every participation in a film, big or small, deserves recognition. 'It's not about the size of the role,' he says, 'it's about the sincerity of the effort. I enjoy the process more than the appearance.' Recently, Yousuf made his appearance in the latest Hollywood blockbuster F1 – the Brad Pitt-led Formula One film – currently screening in cinemas worldwide. This marks his second appearance in a major international production following his earlier role in the sci-fi epic Dune 2 in 2024. Perseverance, patience The few seconds of presence in these globally celebrated films have transformed Yousuf — not just as an actor, but as a human being. 'What I learned on those sets is beyond cinema — it's about patience, endurance, and self-respect,' he reflects. One of his toughest experiences was shooting Dune 2 in the scorching desert of Abu Dhabi, where the mercury touched 40 degrees Celsius. 'We were around 600 people, including 30 extras from Egypt, Afghanistan and Syria. I was one of the 30 selected extras portraying soldiers of Javier Bardem's character,' he disclosed. Every extra wore a three-layered costume weighing over 5kg, and many also carried props — guns and gear weighing up to 10kg. The walk across the dunes was exhausting, and the discipline was almost military. 'You can't even visit the restroom easily. To undress and redress was too daunting a task,' he recalls. The patience was just as demanding — 'we'd wait for hours just for a one-second shot.' Sometimes, the shoot demanded such effort that people fell ill. 'It was challenging but we continued with the processes,' Yousuf shared. When one extra fell seriously ill, the production crew needed a last-minute replacement. And Yousuf was chosen to step in and play an elderly man. 'I was rushed into makeup and given the part. When I finished the shot, the whole unit clapped for me,' he says. 'Actors like Timothy Chalamet, Javier Bardem and Zendaya — they hugged the crew at the end. But what impressed me most was director Denis Villeneuve. Calm, focused — like a painter lost in his Muse and canvas.' No role is small Yousuf's F1 shoot, in contrast, was more relaxed. Shot over five days, Yousuf appeared as a VIP guest from Oman — a moment of great personal pride. 'I studied about F1 races before the shoot. Even as an extra, I wanted to be prepared,' he smiles. 'No role is small.' Two more Hollywood films featuring Yousuf are expected to release by the end of the year. For Yousuf, acting is both craft and lifestyle. 'Fitness is crucial — physically, mentally and spiritually,' he says. 'If you're slow or inattentive, you get replaced; and I never want that.' He continues to hone his skills by attending workshops in Oman and Abu Dhabi and has registered with international casting agencies. He was also featured in an Abu Dhabi Police cybersecurity awareness film, portraying a hacker — a role far from his spiritual, disciplined real-life self. 'It was challenging to play someone so opposite to myself,' he laughs. Yousuf began his acting journey in 2013 as a student at the College of Applied Sciences in Salalah, pursuing Management Studies and Accounting. As a boy, Yousuf was fascinated by action, wrestling, and martial arts — drawn to the world of Van Damme, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. In 2017, he co-founded a YouTube channel with friends and began producing, writing, and acting in short films. His creations, Blood and Silent , earned accolades among film festivals and his community. He was also active in theatre, but over time realised he needed to study acting more deeply. Yousuf is not only an actor but also a director and his short film Empty had bagged three awards globally. 'Why I chose films' 'I began diving into acting techniques and film studies. I didn't just want to be an actor — I wanted to understand everything about cinema.' That passion led him to examine the technical aspects of filmmaking, differentiating the nuances between stage and screen. 'Theatre taught me to be subtle, while films demanded focus and detail. I realised I couldn't do all media simultaneously — so, I chose films.' Sometimes, fate throws open unexpected doors. During the pandemic, Yousuf had got a surprise Instagram message from a US-based director working on a film titled Alien Sniperess . The filmmaker needed a 30-second clip of a man stuck at home as his family is attacked by aliens. 'He sent the storyboard and lines. I created the scene in my garage with ketchup as blood. When the film released in the US, I saw my name in the credits as a supporting actor and second unit director. I was overwhelmed with joy', he said. Yousuf has also been active in the Scouts movement, and remains passionate about gym workouts, martial arts and fitness. His favourite actor is Christian Bale — 'not just for Batman, but for his ability to become any character, physically and mentally.' He also admires Ben Affleck and Brad Pitt, with Fight Club being a long-time inspiration. In terms of directors, his favourites include Christopher Nolan and James Gunn. 'Their visuals make me believe the punches, blood and explosions are real. That's the dedication I aim for.' One-inch barriers of subtitles Yousuf still remembers watching a show The Cobsy Show in Grade 3. 'I didn't understand the language — I just read subtitles. But then I realised cinema transcends language. Emotions don't need translation.' This resonates with what Bong Joon-ho famously said at the Oscars -14x] 'Once you overcome the one-inch barrier of subtitles, you'll discover amazing films.' Yousuf understood that truth long before it became a quote. He insists that on a shoot with celebrities, one doesn't need to show that he is fan but indeed a co-actor. 'We're all co-actors. Each person, even the ones in the shadows, add their own sheen to the final masterpiece,' he said. With conviction in his voice, he adds, 'I want to be the first Omani actor in a major international role. I want to direct, produce, and keep growing. I want to win an Oscar — not for fame, but to prove that hard work, silence, skills, knowledge, focus and sincerity can move mountains and create mesmerising storyboards.' For Yousuf al Housni, the extra is never just extra — it's the heartbeat of the scene. (Pictures by VK Shafeer)


Times of Oman
3 days ago
- Times of Oman
Astronomers capture dawn of new solar system for 1st time
Astronomers have spotted the earliest known signs of rocky planet formation around a young, sun-like star for the first time. The discovery offers an unprecedented glimpse into what may have happened at the dawn of our own solar system. What did the researchers see? Using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope and the European Southern Observatory's ALMA array in Chile, researchers peered into the gas disk surrounding the infant star HOPS-315, about 1,370 light-years away. The star is just 100,000 to 200,000 years old — a newborn in cosmic terms — and is thought to be on its way to becoming a yellow dwarf like our sun. "We've captured a direct glimpse of the hot region where rocky planets like Earth are born around young protostars," said lead researcher Melissa McClure of Leiden Observatory. "For the first time, we can conclusively say that the first steps of planet formation are happening right now." "Our study shows that it could be a common process during the earliest stage of planet formation," McClure said. The observations, published in the science journal Nature, show a glowing, lightning bug-like system against the dark void — a cosmic nursery where planets may one day emerge. While it's impossible to say how many planets HOPS-315 might produce, its massive gas disk could support as many as eight — just like our solar system — though that process may take a million years or more. How did the team carry out the research? Thanks to a tilt in the star's disk and a helpful gap in its outer region, the telescopes were able to detect signs of silicate minerals and silicon monoxide gas condensing. These are the very building blocks believed to have formed Earth and other rocky planets in our solar system over 4.5 billion years ago. The action is happening in a region similar to where our solar system's asteroid belt sits — between Mars and Jupiter. These early-stage solids had never been directly observed in such young systems before, leaving scientists unsure whether Earth's origin story was a rare case. What might it mean? Fred Ciesla of the University of Chicago, who was not involved in the study, called it a long-awaited breakthrough. "This is one of the things we've been waiting for," he said. "There's a rich opportunity here." Astronomers hope similar discoveries will reveal how common planet formation is — and whether Earth-like worlds are a universal phenomenon or a rare cosmic fluke.