<ul><li>NASA's Parker Solar Probe will reach its closest-ever point to the sun on Christmas Eve, coming within 3.8 million miles (6.1 million km) and reaching a top speed of around 435,000 mph (700,000 km/h).</li><li>The probe was launched in 2018 to study the sun's atmosphere and has already broken the record for closest approach to the sun by any spacecraft.</li><li>The upcoming flyby will be a monumental achievement, equivalent to the moon landing of 1969, according to Nour Raouafi, project scientist for the Parker Solar Probe mission.</li><li>The close approach coincides with the sun's peak activity, known as solar maximum, and could help scientists better understand the sun's magnetic field and predict space weather.</li></ul>

NASA's Parker Solar Probe will reach its closest-ever point to the sun on Christmas Eve

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