Why Is the Sun's Corona So Hot?

The video explores the solar corona, the outermost layer of the sun's atmosphere, which is significantly hotter than the sun's surface. It discusses two main hypotheses for this phenomenon: wave heating and magnetic reconnection. Wave heating involves energy from turbulence on the sun's surface traveling to the corona, while magnetic reconnection involves energy release from magnetic domains in the sun's plasma. To gather more data, NASA plans to launch the Parker Solar Probe to study the corona's heating mechanisms. The probe will fly closer to the sun than any previous mission, aiming to solve the mystery of the corona's extreme temperatures.

What is the corona and why is it considered one of the biggest mysteries in astronomy?

Explain the concept of wave heating and how it might contribute to the high temperatures of the corona.

What is magnetic reconnection and how does it relate to the heating of the corona?

What are some of the challenges astronomers face in studying the corona?

Discuss the role of the Parker Solar Probe in understanding the corona.