Artists concept of the Parker Solar Probe spacecraft approaching the sun. Launched in 2018, the ... [+] probe is increasing our ability to forecast major space-weather events that impact life on Earth.NASAToday, humanity achieved a historic milestone as NASAs Parker Solar Probe got closer to the sun than any spacecraft in history. At just 3.86 million miles (6.1 million kilometers) from the suns surface, the probe broke records for speed as well as proximity, traveling at a staggering 430,000 mph.Parker achieved its landmark at 11:53 UTC (6:53 a.m. EST) on Dec. 24, bringing it within 4% of the Earth-Sun distance, well inside Mercurys orbit.It was humanitys closest encounter with a star, a feat inextricably linked to two spectacular things that happened in 2024 North Americas total solar eclipse on April 8 and the global displays of aurora on May 10 and Oct. 10.Heres everything you need to know about the science behind NASAs Parker Solar Probe and its incredible achievement.Parker Solar Probe: Mission ExplainedDec. 24s close flyby was the final objective of the historic mission conceived over 65 years ago. Its mission is helping solar scientists better understand the sun, whose magnetized material creates solar wind in the solar system.This so-called space weather ultimately interacts with Earths atmosphere to cause the Northern Lights, but stronger geomagnetic storms can also threaten GPS satellites, causing havoc on Earth, as well as posing a danger to electricity grids.MORE FOR YOUThe moon crosses in front of the sun during a total solar eclipse at Lake Monroe on April 8, 2024 in ... [+] Indiana, U.S., offering a rare glimpse of the solar corona. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images)Edward M. Pio RodaParker Solar Probe: Space WeatherThe key to understanding the origins of space weather lies in understanding the sun itself, which is why NASA and the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory have Parker make direct measurements of the suns corona. This outer, hotter atmosphere of the sun only visible from Earth during the few minutes of totality during a total solar eclipse, as occurred on April 8, 2024 across North America can reach several million degrees Fahrenheit, where the solar wind originates. Parker became the first spacecraft to fly through the corona in 2021.We are learning new science about the corona and the solar wind, said Dr. Nour Raouafi, the projects scientist at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, during a media roundtable at the American Geophysical Unions annual meeting on Dec. 10, 2024.Parker Solar Probe: Solar CoronaSolar scientists are specifically trying to understand where the solar wind is accelerated to supersonic speeds. They think the secret may be understanding why the corona is magnitudes hotter than the suns surface.Parkers data is also helping solar scientists understand how coronal mass ejections clouds of charged particles hurled outwards by the sun are born and structured. CMEs clean everything in front of them, leaving a near-perfect vacuum behind them, said Rawafi. Its no wonder that when one of them hits our magnetosphere, it causes havoc, like the super storms in May and October.He refers to the two powerful geomagnetic storms that resulted in intense global displays of aurora borealis, which, in the U.S., were seen as far south as Arizona and Florida.To reach the sun, Parker Solar Probe's path has used seven gravity assists from Venus to propel it ... [+] closer to the star.NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio and Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.Parker Solar Probe: Journey And Whats NextParker has been readying for its close flyby of the sun since it launched on Aug. 12, 2018. On Jun. 30, Parker completed its 20th close approach to the sun, matching its distance record by coming about 4.51 million miles (7.26 million kilometers) from the solar surface. It then conducted its 21st close approach to the sun on Sept. 30, reaching an identical distance from the sun.In recent months, its been getting into position for todays record-breaking close approach, completing its final Venus gravity assist maneuver on Nov. 6 when it passed within 233 miles (376 kilometers) of the planets surface. The flyby adjusted Parkers trajectory into its final highly elliptical path around the sun, which it will remain in for the rest of its mission.After its close flyby today, Parker will complete two more hyper-close passes at the same distance on March 22 and June 19, 2025.Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.