Mind bender.


Sun Slower Than Previously Thought: New Finding May Upend 'Bow-Shock' Theory

The sun is zipping through interstellar space more slowly than once thought, suggesting the giant shock wave long suspected of existing in front of the sun is not actually there, researchers say.

These new findings may influence what scientists know about high-energy cosmic rays that can endanger astronauts, they added. This will also influence the Voyagers.



Many stars have bow shock waves, as seen in these images. (NASA / ESA / JPL-Caltech / Goddard / SwRI / May 11, 2012)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bow_shock_%28aerodynamics%29
Bow shock (aerodynamics)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Well I won't stay up all night anymore worrying about this one.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

Once astronomer Halton Arp sent me a b/w photo of a galaxy with a bow shock he had made at Mount Palomar Obs.
Tullio

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Here is another link about the IBEX mission. Posted back in January.

"Alien" Particles Found Invading Our Solar System—A First

For the first time, a NASA spacecraft has directly observed "alien" particles that came from beyond our solar system, astronomers announced today.

The discovery not only gives us a glimpse of what exists in the so-called interstellar medium—the matter between stars—but also offers clues to the anatomy of our local galactic neighborhood.