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The Parker Solar Probe will make its closest approach yet to the Sun

(arstechnica.com)
164 points pseudolus | 2 comments | 20 Dec 24 11:23 UTC | HN request time: 1.013s | source
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kfogel ◴[20 Dec 24 21:27 UTC] No.42475215[source]▶
Most of the comments so far are about the temperature and the closeness to the sun, and, hey, I get it: those are both amazing to think about. But to me even more amazing is... 0.16% of the speed of light?? Yikes.
replies(3): >>42475305 #>>42478472 #>>42480737 #
1. kristianc ◴[21 Dec 24 09:19 UTC] No.42478472[source]▶
It weighs half a ton. Getting it to even 10% of the speed of light would take more energy than is produced by the world in a year.
replies(1): >>42479903 #
2. bagels ◴[21 Dec 24 14:31 UTC] No.42479903[source]▶
It wouldn't be in orbit of the sun anymore