Parker Solar Probe Path Across Sun's Surface

The velocity of Parker Solar Probe is fastest right at perihelion. The spacecraft is so fast that near perihelion, it flies faster than the Sun rotates. This animation illustrates this by following the track of the spacecraft on map of the surface of the Sun. When the spacecraft flies faster than the Sun rotates, the orbit track on the surface goes backward (retrograde). At the turning points (labeled co-rotation periods), the spacecraft and the Sun are essential moving together (co-rotation). These periods of time, which last many hours, will be invaluable for making continuous measurements of solar wind from the same source.

Credit: NASA/JPL/WISPR Team