Satellite reveals solar system's tail
Posted: Sat, Jul 13, 2013, 10:57 AM ET (1457 GMT)
A NASA satellite has revealed the tail of solar wind from the Sun for the first time, showing that it has a structure like a four-leaf clover. NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) satellite detected the tail by measuring neutral particles created by collisions of other particles the the heliopause, where the solar wind meets the interstellar medium. The IBEX data shows that the solar wind has a tail of particles with four lobes, two of faster particles from the Sun's poles and two of slower particles from near the Sun's equator, extending into interstellar space. Astronomers said they don't yet know the length of this tail.
A NASA satellite has revealed the tail of solar wind from the Sun for the first time, showing that it has a structure like a four-leaf clover. NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) satellite detected the tail by measuring neutral particles created by collisions of other particles the the heliopause, where the solar wind meets the interstellar medium. The IBEX data shows that the solar wind has a tail of particles with four lobes, two of faster particles from the Sun's poles and two of slower particles from near the Sun's equator, extending into interstellar space. Astronomers said they don't yet know the length of this tail.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Starship explodes during preparations for static-fire test
Posted: Sun, Jun 22 6:52 AM ET (1052 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, June 26
SSC and Firefly Progress Towards Orbital Launch from Esrange Following TSA Signing Between Sweden and the U.S.
Firefly Aerospace — 5:36 am ET (0936 GMT) Starlink’s South African dream may face a two-year delay
Technext — 5:34 am ET (0934 GMT) I Tested T-Mobile's Cellular Starlink Service in the Middle of Nowhere: Is it Worth $10 Per Month?
PC Magazine — 5:34 am ET (0934 GMT) Space race: Is Eutelsat Europe’s answer to Musk’s Starlink?
France 24 — 5:34 am ET (0934 GMT) Space RCO Preparing To Launch First ‘Full-Up’ Satellites
Aviation Week — 5:30 am ET (0930 GMT) |
