The single-camera instrument, known as the Wide-Field Imager for Parker Solar Probe, or WIPR, is not designed to look directly at the sun, which is very bright, especially at close range. In contrast, WIPR is symmetrical to the side, where charged particles known as the solar wind burst from the sun at a speed of one million miles per hour.
Prior to launching the Parker Solar Probe in 2018, Dr. Glaze and Dr. Fox, then project scientist for the mission, discussed the possibility of operating the instrument during a Venus flyby. But it wasn’t until after launch that confirmed plans were made and the Parker Space Probe went smoothly.
“It’s just a safety issue,” said Dr. Fox. “Until you get into orbit, you don’t really know how to fly your spaceship.”
Designed to capture the faintest particles of the solar wind, WISPR has proven adept at bringing out the faint glow on Venus’ night side.
It took a little trial and error to figure it out. In July 2020, on the first flight where the camera was turned on, scientists discovered that if any part of the daytime side of Venus is in the field of view, the image is surprisingly bright.
“We didn’t really know what we were doing,” said Dr. Wood. “We quickly learned that this resulted in a completely unusable image.”
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