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The finding, which overturns 40 years of theory, provides insight into the fundamental structure of the heliosphere, which in turn helps scientists understand similar structures or "astrospheres" that surround other star systems throughout the cosmos.
Rather than a comet-like shape, the heliosphere appears to be bubble-shaped according to data from Cassini's Ion and Neutral Camera (MIMI / INCA). Rather than being dominated by the collisions between the solar wind and the interstellar medium, the INCA (ENA) maps suggest that the interaction is controlled more by particle pressure and magnetic field energy density.
The IBEX maps differ so radically from what was expected prior to the mission that the scientists have been struggling to untangle the vast amount of information the maps contain. The team notes that getting emissions from the nose of the heliosphere has been an important "lamp post" towards understanding how the global heliosphere is controlled by the interaction of the Sun with the local galactic medium.
Says McComas, "Prior to IBEX, most scientists believed that the global boundaries of our solar system were controlled mainly by the motion of our solar system through the galaxy and the solar wind, an extremely fast flow of electrically charged matter that flows out from the Sun. The IBEX maps reveal the galactic magnetic field is also a critical part of the Sun's interaction with the galaxy."
"This galactic magnetic field may be a missing key to understanding how the heliosphere protects the solar system from galactic cosmic rays," says Schwadron.
In a paper to be published in the April 10, 2011, issue of The Astrophysical Journal,
This galactic magnetic field may be a missing key to understanding how the heliosphere protects the solar system from galactic cosmic rays," says Schwadron.
Originally posted by funbox
so what you are saying is that the universe inst as big as was originally thought? how interesting almost like looking outside of our solar system through a fish eye,.
deflatedboxedit on 31-3-2011 by funbox because: to add
Originally posted by funbox
reply to post by XPLodER
almost embryonic in my eyes , what a curious system of protection, lets say if we took a ship outside of our system , would we be able to travel quicker between the medium in between to the next system? beyond our current figure for light speed? interesting stuff
funbox
The IBEX maps differ so radically from what was expected prior to the mission that the scientists have been struggling to untangle the vast amount of information the maps contain
Originally posted by XPLodER
reply to post by funbox
heres a thought
if we are looking out through a "lens" and stars we are looking at are lenses
how does that change their "perceived" distence?
and if we are in a bubble lens looking at a gravatationally lensing galaxy and our sun bubble is in a galaxy,
that itself is a lens as well i count three lensing oportunities for natural
space based "telescopes" made from these lensing areas.
how do we know that these "bubbles" are as luminous as we beleive? if they are surounded by a bubble does this effect the perceived brightness and diameter of the star?
lots of questions have i
xploder
Originally posted by davidgrouchy
Well done Xploder,
progress is being made.
Maybe Newton's Optics really is more relevant
to solving the universe than the theory of gravity we hear so much about.
David Grouchy