{ "id": 4957, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4957/", "page_type": "Visualization", "title": "Parker Solar Probe: The Origins of Switchbacks", "description": "Most of the magnetic field measured at Parker during this time is directed sunward (blue field lines and vectors). A switchback occurs when the field changes direction almost 180 degrees for a short period of time. FIELDS instrument magnetic vector data are projected from the spacecraft position as arrows. The arrows are colored deep blue for sunward vectors, deep red for anti-sunward, and in between for directions off from this line. 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FIELDS instrument magnetic vector data are projected from the spacecraft position with arrows. The arrows are colored deep blue for sunward vectors, deep red for anti-sunward, and in between for directions off from this line. The heliospheric magnetic field lines are the gold lines, representing the propagation of the average field measured at Parker, propagated back to the solar photosphere.", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 }, "main_video": { "id": 374835, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a004900/a004957/ParkerSP.ChaseCloseupAft.Switchbacks20181106A.FIELDS.HD1080_p30.mp4", "filename": "ParkerSP.ChaseCloseupAft.Switchbacks20181106A.FIELDS.HD1080_p30.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Most of the magnetic field measured at Parker during this time is directed sunward (blue field lines and vectors). A switchback occurs when the field changes direction almost 180 degrees for a short period of time. FIELDS instrument magnetic vector data are projected from the spacecraft position as arrows. The arrows are colored deep blue for sunward vectors, deep red for anti-sunward, and in between for directions off from this line. The heliospheric magnetic field lines are represented as gold.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 }, "progress": "Complete", "media_groups": [ { "id": 315776, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4957/#media_group_315776", "widget": "Video player", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Most of the magnetic field measured at Parker during this time is directed sunward (blue field lines and vectors). A switchback occurs when the field changes direction almost 180 degrees for a short period of time. FIELDS instrument magnetic vector data are projected from the spacecraft position as arrows. The arrows are colored deep blue for sunward vectors, deep red for anti-sunward, and in between for directions off from this line. The heliospheric magnetic field lines are represented as gold.", "items": [ { "id": 216220, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 374838, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a004900/a004957/ParkerSP.ChaseCloseupAft.Switchbacks20181106A.FIELDS.clockSlate_EarthTarget.HD1080.00990_print.jpg", "filename": "ParkerSP.ChaseCloseupAft.Switchbacks20181106A.FIELDS.clockSlate_EarthTarget.HD1080.00990_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Most of the magnetic field measured at Parker during this time is directed sunward (blue field lines and vectors). A switchback occurs when the field changes direction almost 180 degrees for a short period of time. FIELDS instrument magnetic vector data are projected from the spacecraft position as arrows. The arrows are colored deep blue for sunward vectors, deep red for anti-sunward, and in between for directions off from this line. 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The heliospheric magnetic field lines are represented as gold.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 216217, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 374835, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a004900/a004957/ParkerSP.ChaseCloseupAft.Switchbacks20181106A.FIELDS.HD1080_p30.mp4", "filename": "ParkerSP.ChaseCloseupAft.Switchbacks20181106A.FIELDS.HD1080_p30.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Most of the magnetic field measured at Parker during this time is directed sunward (blue field lines and vectors). A switchback occurs when the field changes direction almost 180 degrees for a short period of time. FIELDS instrument magnetic vector data are projected from the spacecraft position as arrows. The arrows are colored deep blue for sunward vectors, deep red for anti-sunward, and in between for directions off from this line. The heliospheric magnetic field lines are represented as gold.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 216219, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 374837, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a004900/a004957/ParkerSP.ChaseCloseupAft.Switchbacks20181106A.FIELDS.HD1080_p30.webm", "filename": "ParkerSP.ChaseCloseupAft.Switchbacks20181106A.FIELDS.HD1080_p30.webm", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Most of the magnetic field measured at Parker during this time is directed sunward (blue field lines and vectors). A switchback occurs when the field changes direction almost 180 degrees for a short period of time. FIELDS instrument magnetic vector data are projected from the spacecraft position as arrows. The arrows are colored deep blue for sunward vectors, deep red for anti-sunward, and in between for directions off from this line. The heliospheric magnetic field lines are represented as gold.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 216216, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 374834, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a004900/a004957/frames/3840x2160_16x9_30p/Switchbacks20181106A/", "filename": "Switchbacks20181106A", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Most of the magnetic field measured at Parker during this time is directed sunward (blue field lines and vectors). A switchback occurs when the field changes direction almost 180 degrees for a short period of time. FIELDS instrument magnetic vector data are projected from the spacecraft position as arrows. The arrows are colored deep blue for sunward vectors, deep red for anti-sunward, and in between for directions off from this line. The heliospheric magnetic field lines are represented as gold.", "width": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } }, { "id": 216218, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 374836, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a004900/a004957/ParkerSP.ChaseCloseupAft.Switchbacks20181106A.FIELDS.UHD3840_2160p30.mp4", "filename": "ParkerSP.ChaseCloseupAft.Switchbacks20181106A.FIELDS.UHD3840_2160p30.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Most of the magnetic field measured at Parker during this time is directed sunward (blue field lines and vectors). A switchback occurs when the field changes direction almost 180 degrees for a short period of time. FIELDS instrument magnetic vector data are projected from the spacecraft position as arrows. The arrows are colored deep blue for sunward vectors, deep red for anti-sunward, and in between for directions off from this line. The heliospheric magnetic field lines are represented as gold.", "width": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 315775, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4957/#media_group_315775", "widget": "Basic text with HTML", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "For a number of years, solar scientists have known about a phenomenon they called 'switchbacks'. Switchbacks are short-term 'flips' in the polarity of the magnetic field in the outflowing solar wind. Parker Solar Probe has detected these 'switchbacks' (Switchbacks Science: Explaining Parker Solar Probe’s Magnetic Puzzle), which appear to be more plentiful closer to the Sun.

In the visualization above, Parker is passing through a region of inward bound magnetic flux (blue lines). This surrounding field is computed from a running average of the measurements by Parker, which are computing from the individual measurements at Parker's position (arrows projecting from the spacecraft position). For a brief time, these vectors flip direction, in this particular case changing color from blue to white and red, from the surrounding field, which is the signature of a switchback.

Closer to the Sun, the average field lines trace back to coronal structures called pseudostreamers, that are magnetic structures which overlay and connect multiple pole magnetic regions. These regions also appear to correlate with where magnetic flux emerges between supergranule convection cells.", "items": [], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 315777, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4957/#media_group_315777", "widget": "Video player", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Most of the magnetic field measured at Parker during this time is directed sunward (blue field lines and vectors). A switchback occurs when the field changes direction almost 180 degrees for a short period of time. FIELDS instrument magnetic vector data are projected from the spacecraft position as arrows. The arrows are colored deep blue for sunward vectors, deep red for anti-sunward, and in between for directions off from this line. The heliospheric magnetic field lines are represented as gold.", "items": [ { "id": 216228, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 374844, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a004900/a004957/ParkerSP.ChaseCloseupAft.Switchbacks20181106B.FIELDS.clockSlate_EarthTarget.HD1080.01320_print.jpg", "filename": "ParkerSP.ChaseCloseupAft.Switchbacks20181106B.FIELDS.clockSlate_EarthTarget.HD1080.01320_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Most of the magnetic field measured at Parker during this time is directed sunward (blue field lines and vectors). A switchback occurs when the field changes direction almost 180 degrees for a short period of time. FIELDS instrument magnetic vector data are projected from the spacecraft position as arrows. The arrows are colored deep blue for sunward vectors, deep red for anti-sunward, and in between for directions off from this line. The heliospheric magnetic field lines are represented as gold.", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 } }, { "id": 216223, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 374839, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a004900/a004957/frames/1920x1080_16x9_30p/Switchbacks20181106B/", "filename": "Switchbacks20181106B", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Most of the magnetic field measured at Parker during this time is directed sunward (blue field lines and vectors). A switchback occurs when the field changes direction almost 180 degrees for a short period of time. FIELDS instrument magnetic vector data are projected from the spacecraft position as arrows. The arrows are colored deep blue for sunward vectors, deep red for anti-sunward, and in between for directions off from this line. 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The heliospheric magnetic field lines are represented as gold.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 216224, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 374840, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a004900/a004957/frames/3840x2160_16x9_30p/Switchbacks20181106B/", "filename": "Switchbacks20181106B", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Most of the magnetic field measured at Parker during this time is directed sunward (blue field lines and vectors). A switchback occurs when the field changes direction almost 180 degrees for a short period of time. FIELDS instrument magnetic vector data are projected from the spacecraft position as arrows. The arrows are colored deep blue for sunward vectors, deep red for anti-sunward, and in between for directions off from this line. 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The heliospheric magnetic field lines are represented as gold.", "width": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 315778, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4957/#media_group_315778", "widget": "Video player", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "A top-down view from the ecliptic pole of the orbit of Parker Solar Probe for Encounter 6. FIELDS instrument magnetic vector data are projected from the spacecraft position with arrows. The arrows are colored deep blue for sunward vectors, deep red for anti-sunward, and in between for directions off from this line. The heliospheric magnetic field lines are the gold lines, representing the propagation of the average field measured at Parker, propagated back to the solar photosphere.", "items": [ { "id": 216232, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 374848, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a004900/a004957/BaleSwitchbacks.enc06.top.Overview.FIELDS.field.clockSlate_EarthTarget.HD1080.00690_print.jpg", "filename": "BaleSwitchbacks.enc06.top.Overview.FIELDS.field.clockSlate_EarthTarget.HD1080.00690_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "A top-down view from the ecliptic pole of the orbit of Parker Solar Probe for Encounter 6. FIELDS instrument magnetic vector data are projected from the spacecraft position with arrows. The arrows are colored deep blue for sunward vectors, deep red for anti-sunward, and in between for directions off from this line. 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NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has now flown through the Sun’s upper atmosphere – the corona – and sampled particles and magnetic fields there. As Parker Solar Probe flew through the corona, its WISPR instrument captured images.The Wide-Field Imager for Parker Solar Probe (WISPR) is the only imaging instrument aboard the spacecraft. WISPR looks at the large-scale structure of the corona and solar wind before the spacecraft flies through it. About the size of a shoebox, WISPR takes images from afar of structures like coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, jets and other ejecta from the Sun. These structures travel out from the Sun and eventually overtake the spacecraft, where the spacecraft’s other instruments take in-situ measurements. WISPR helps link what’s happening in the large-scale coronal structure to the detailed physical measurements being captured directly in the near-Sun environment.To image the solar atmosphere, WISPR uses the heat shield to block most of the Sun’s light, which would otherwise obscure the much fainter corona. Specially designed baffles and occulters reflect and absorb the residual stray light that has been reflected or diffracted off the edge of the heat shield or other parts of the spacecraft.WISPR uses two cameras with radiation-hardened Active Pixel Sensor CMOS detectors. These detectors are used in place of traditional CCDs because they are lighter and use less power. They are also less susceptible to effects of radiation damage from cosmic rays and other high-energy particles, which are a big concern close to the Sun. The camera’s lenses are made of a radiation hard BK7, a common type of glass used for space telescopes, which is also sufficiently hardened against the impacts of dust.WISPR was designed and developed by the Solar and Heliophysics Physics Branch at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. (principal investigator Russell Howard), which will also develop the observing program. || ", "release_date": "2021-12-20T22:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2023-05-03T13:43:36.490627-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 374325, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014000/a014055/wispr_lw_composite_enc08_20210428.00001_print.jpg", "filename": "wispr_lw_composite_enc08_20210428.00001_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "During Parker Solar Probe’s eighth orbit around the Sun, the spacecraft flew through structures in the corona called streamers. 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Bale• Principal Investigator for Fields Experiment (FIELDS) on Parker Solar Probe • University of California, Berkeley Dr. Kelly Korreck• Program Scientist at NASA Headquarters• Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory || ", "release_date": "2021-12-14T12:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2023-05-03T13:43:38.987615-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 374572, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014000/a014035/ParkerBeauty_HD1080.00300_print.jpg", "filename": "ParkerBeauty_HD1080.00300_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Parker Solar Probe has now “touched the Sun”, passing through the Sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona for the first time in April 2021.Credit: NASA GSFC/CIL/Brian Monroe", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 } }, { "id": 14036, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14036/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "Animation: NASA's Parker Solar Probe Enters Solar Atmosphere", "description": "For the first time in history, a spacecraft has touched the Sun. 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On April 28, 2021, during its eighth flyby of the Sun, Parker Solar Probe encountered the specific magnetic and particle conditions at 18.8 solar radii (8.127 million miles) above the solar surface that told scientists it had crossed the Alfvén critical surface for the first time and finally entered the solar atmosphere.More information here. || ", "release_date": "2021-12-14T12:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2023-05-03T13:43:39.083452-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 374694, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014000/a014036/Final_PSPAlfvenWave_Version2_NoTransitions_H264.00400_print.jpg", "filename": "Final_PSPAlfvenWave_Version2_NoTransitions_H264.00400_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Parker Solar Probe has now “touched the Sun”, passing through the Sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona for the first time in April 2021. The boundary that marks the edge of the corona is the Alfvén critical surface. Inside that surface (circle at left), plasma is connected to the Sun by waves that travel back and forth to the surface. Beyond it (circle at right), the Sun’s magnetic fields and gravity are too weak to contain the plasma and it becomes the solar wind, racing across the solar system so fast that waves within the wind cannot ever travel fast enough to make it back to the Sun. Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Ben Smith", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 } }, { "id": 20354, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/20354/", "page_type": "Animation", "title": "Animation: Origins of Switchbacks", "description": "On recent solar encounters, Parker Solar Probe collected data pinpointing the origin of zig-zag-shaped structures in the solar wind, called switchbacks. The data showed one spot switchbacks originate is at the visible surface of the Sun – the photosphere. By the time it reaches Earth, 93 million miles away, the solar wind is an unrelenting headwind of particles and magnetic fields. But as it escapes the Sun, the solar wind is structured and patchy. In the mid-1990s, the NASA-European Space Agency mission Ulysses flew over the Sun’s poles and discovered a handful of bizarre S-shaped kinks in the solar wind’s magnetic field lines, which detoured charged particles on a zig-zag path as they escaped the Sun. For decades, scientists thought these occasional switchbacks were oddities confined to the Sun’s polar regions. In 2019, at 34 solar radii from the Sun, Parker Solar Probe discovered that switchbacks were not rare, but common in the solar wind. This renewed interest in the features raised new questions: Where are they coming from and how do they form and evolve? Were they forged at the surface of the Sun, or shaped by some process kinking magnetic fields in the solar atmosphere? The new findings, in press at the Astrophysical Journal, finally confirm one origin point near the solar surface. More information here. || ", "release_date": "2021-12-14T12:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2023-05-03T13:43:39.481307-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 374501, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020300/a020354/Parker_SP_new_results_4K_h264.00736_print.jpg", "filename": "Parker_SP_new_results_4K_h264.00736_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Data from Parker Solar Probe has traced the origin of switchbacks – magnetic zig-zag structures in the solar wind – back to the solar surface. At the surface, magnetic funnels emerge from the photosphere between convection cell structures called supergranules. Switchbacks form inside the funnels and rise into the corona and are pushed out on the solar wind. 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