NASA's probe has set a record for its closest approach to the Sun.

According to Nasa, the Parker Solar Probe is functioning normally, despite operating under extreme conditions: temperatures in the solar corona reaching up to 980 degrees Celsius, intense radiation, and speeds of about 692,000 kilometers per hour. Researchers anticipate receiving updated telemetry data from it on January 1.

British astronomer Jennifer Millard emphasized in a comment to the BBC that studying the Sun has not only theoretical significance. The solar corona is significantly hotter than the Sun's core, and scientists currently lack an explanation for this phenomenon. The solar wind interacts with Earth's magnetic field, causing auroras, but its activity can also affect the operation of power grids, communication systems, and electronics, impacting people's daily lives. Understanding "solar weather" in the future will allow scientists to make forecasts and prevent related incidents.

• The Parker Solar Probe was launched by NASA from the Kennedy Space Center in 2018. As of now, it is the fastest-moving device ever created by humanity. Over seven years, it has completed 24 orbits around the Sun, repeatedly breaking its own records for proximity. The probe studies solar wind, plasma, the origin and movement of elementary particles, and magnetic fields.