The Interstellar Boundary Explorer , or IBEX , has offer NASA with a completely unexpected view of solar wind . Turns out that these “ wind instrument ” of charge particles are shaped by nearby stars . This find completely changes our scene of the solar system .
scientist are using IBEX to create a more accurate map of the boundary between interstellar space and our heliosphere – the bubble of distance created by solar wind from our sun . This house of cards shield the planets from cosmic corpuscle that zoom from interstellar space towards the Dominicus at speeds ranging from 100,000 mph to more than 2.4 million miles per hour . What scientists think they ’d witness was a boundary between the heliosphere and interstellar outer space that was moderately even and shifted gradually from one realm to the other . But alternatively they discovered that the charge particles streaming out of our sun are a distinctive laurel wreath shape ( the blue and red realm in the heliosphere manikin above ) , almost like an intense jet flow moving speedily through the solar system .
say Dr. David J. McComas , IBEX principal investigator :
The IBEX results are truly remarkable , with emissions not resembling any of the current theories or model of this never - before - seen neighborhood . We expected to see modest , gradual spatial variations at the interstellar boundary , some ten billion miles forth . However , IBEX is evidence us a very narrow ribbon that is two to three time brighter than anything else in the sky .
This suggests that in some ways , space weather resemble Earth weather . Except or else of hot front and cold nominal head , you have the magnetic fields of remote stars changing the shape of solar breaking wind here at base .
Here ’s a closer look at the ribbon .
One question arose immediately when scientist made this find : Why did n’t the Voyager spacecraft see this ribbon ? It turns out that it flows directly between the two orbiter ’ flying itinerary ( see top image ) .
Eric Christian , the IBEX surrogate mission scientist at NASA ’s Goddard Space Flight Center , say :
The Voyagers are providing background truth , but they ’re missing the most exciting region . It ’s like receive two atmospheric condition stations that miss the big violent storm that runs between them .
look like we have a destination for the next propagation of Voyager - style craft .
Even more exciting is that this solar wind laurel wreath appear to be extremely concentrated in some areas , as if the magnetic field of our interstellar neighborhood are creating Eddy and whirlpools of charged particles . Researchers poring over the IBEX information say they need to spend much more time take apart what they ’ve find before they can make any definitive statements about what all of this agency . But one affair they can say for certain . Our solar organisation ’s weather – and by annexe our solar system itself – is far more impress by nearby star than anyone pull in before .
viaSouthwest Research Institute
ScienceSpace
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