https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/mission-to-the-nearest-star-fastest-spacecraft-ever-will-dare-to-sample-the-suns-corona/

Last summer people across North America were captivated by one of nature’s most spectacular phenomena: a total solar eclipse. Some traveled thousands of miles to witness the blotting out of the sun’s light, if only for a few moments. When the moon passes in front of our star, we can glimpse a rare sight: the outer atmosphere of the sun.

Known as the corona, this shimmering haze encircling our star is the target of NASA’s next space mission. In the predawn hours of August 11 the Parker Solar Probe will launch on a first-of-its-kind journey to reach out and touch the sun. The spacecraft will fly through our star’s outer atmosphere, scooping up particles and taking measurements that scientists hope will solve the mystery of how the sun’s corona gets so hot.