In this episode, we’re blown back and blown away by the solar wind. Will offers a historical overview of how Eugene Parker discovered the solar wind without running a single experiment. Malena covers early results and next steps for the eponymous and incredibly hot Parker Solar Probe, as it ~enters the Sun~. Postdoc Chris Spalding also discusses Mercury’s (literally) impactful and (solar) windy childhood.
Astrobites:
astrobites.org/2020/02/13/visiting-the-sun/
astrobites.org/2020/09/03/parker-solar-wind-2/
Original solar wind paper:
ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1958ApJ...128..664P/abstract
Chris’ personal website:
christopherspalding.net
Space sound: