What mission provided empirical close-up data showing the turbulent plasma surface of our Sun?
Answer
Parker Solar Probe
The Parker Solar Probe is the specific spacecraft mentioned in relation to achieving an empirical close-up view of the Sun. This mission involves navigating close to our star, allowing detailed imaging and in-situ measurements of the environment. Observations from this probe confirm that the Sun’s surface is not smooth but rather a turbulent, boiling mass of incandescent gas known as plasma, providing vital data that confirms the structure seen in the photosphere's convection cells.
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