# Flying to the sun **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 7, 2011, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-to-the-sun/598861 "2011-10-07T03:18:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-to-the-sun/598861/21 "2011-10-09T00:34:55Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > But it would be easier to see if you went at night during a full moon. Fer cryin’ out loud. He can go in the daytime. Haven’t you ever heard of SUNGLASSES?! ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-to-the-sun/598861/22 "2011-10-09T01:31:58Z")
It’s been suggested that an asteroid or comet would make a nifty sun shield for approaching the Sun. One asteroid approaches as close as 0.092 AU, and one family of “sun grazing” comets pass as close as a few hundred thousand kilometers above the sun’s surface. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-to-the-sun/598861/23 "2011-10-09T03:55:09Z")
> [@Khendrask](#): > > After the spaceship, the second big problem would simply be getting there. It would take a HUGE amount of energy to get there. You can’t just point at it and hit go, you need to shed all of the earths orbital velocity to begin with. I tend to think that even if this is such a problem it isn’t an insurmountable problem. after all we have probes that go to mercury and we have probes that go to pluto. My question doesn’t have to do with how I get there but my survivle once I do get there. [QUOTE=Robert Zubrin] We either muster the courage to go Or we risk the possibility of stagnation and decay We’ve got cosmic radiation Zero gravity Martian dust storms Back contamination But these are dragons that we can take on [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![what\_do\_I\_type\_here](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a5b964/32.png) [@what\_do\_I\_type\_here](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/what_do_I_type_here)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-to-the-sun/598861/24 "2011-10-09T04:15:52Z")
I’m not sure how to ask this but what is the closest thing to the sun with a relatively circular orbit? Is it Mercury? I understand comets come very close to the sun all the time, but their aphelions are way out there. I guess what I mean is, is there anything between Mercury and the Sun? ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-to-the-sun/598861/25 "2011-10-09T08:51:43Z")
> [@drewder](#): > > My question doesn’t have to do with how I get there but my survivle once I do get there. Thing is, the amount of time it takes you to get there may determine what kills you. If the approach speed is slow you may be killed by radiation, depending on solar activity and how much protection you have. If your travel time is very short, you’ll quickly reach a point where the heat will kill you. IIRC, it takes more energy to reach Mercury than it does to leave the solar system. > [@what\_do\_I\_type\_here](#): > > I guess what I mean is, is there anything between Mercury and the Sun? There may be some [vulcanoid asteroids](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulcanoid_asteroid), but none have been detected, it’s difficult to examine this region due to the sun’s glare. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-to-the-sun/598861/26 "2011-10-09T09:24:21Z")
> [@Alka\_Seltzer](#): > > Try to steer clear of [Magnetars](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetar), the magnetic field would be strong enough to wipe your brain at a considerable distance. I’m guessing the workings of your nervous system would be affected before your tissues were torn apart due to the dimagnetism of water. > [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > On the other hand, if he were suffering from severe depression triggered by his imminent immolation, it [might help](http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/transcranial-magnetic-stimulation/MY00185). Yes, sounds like the magnetar option would be the quickest and most painless way. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-to-the-sun/598861/27 "2011-10-10T01:49:21Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Your best bet would be to go at night. Let’s give credit where credit is due… \*"I realize that planet Earth is unique, at least in our solar system. We know that. It’s odd that people try to talk about going to go to some other planet like Earth and they have no respect whatsoever for the contemplation of traveling to these places. We went to the moon - it took us about three days at the speed we went there. To go to the sun, I keep kidding about it: At the speed of light, it takes eight minutes, but **you have to go at night."** - [Wally Schirra](http://www.wallyschirra.com/about_wally.htm)\* Although I think he stole that schtick from Bill Dana.. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-to-the-sun/598861/28 "2011-10-10T02:53:43Z")
[Ali G asked Buzz Aldrin](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTKedyQQkZQ) the same question. Aldrin said the sun was too hot, and Ali G. asked if you could go in winter instead. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-to-the-sun/598861.md?page=1)