What is the heliotail and how was it discovered by IBEX spacecraft?

  • Thread starter Dotini
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In summary, a new NASA discovery has revealed that our solar system has a tail similar to that of a comet as it travels around the Milky Way. The images captured by the IBEX spacecraft show this heliotail, and the trajectory of our solar system is approximately 60 degrees to the left of the Galactic Center and slightly left of Altair. More information can be found in the provided article and journal reference.
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  • #3
interesting, can those scientists tell what the trajectory of the solar system is?
 
  • #4
cenzi, the link below may answer your question. I hope it does. We are moving roughly 60ish degrees to the left of the Galactic Centers direction and a bit left of Altair.

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap020210.html
 
  • #5
Rangertab1 said:
cenzi, the link below may answer your question. I hope it does. We are moving roughly 60ish degrees to the left of the Galactic Centers direction and a bit left of Altair.

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap020210.html


got it, thank you, Ranger.
 

What is IBEX and what did it discover?

IBEX stands for Interstellar Boundary Explorer, which is a NASA spacecraft. It discovered the heliotail, the boundary of the heliosphere where the solar wind and interstellar medium interact.

Why is the discovery of the heliotail significant?

The heliotail serves as an important boundary for our solar system and provides insights into the physical processes that shape our heliosphere. It also helps us understand our place in the galaxy.

How was the heliotail discovered?

The heliotail was discovered using data collected by IBEX, specifically through measurements of energetic neutral atoms (ENAs) that are created at the boundary of the heliosphere.

What new information about the heliosphere did IBEX's discovery reveal?

IBEX's discovery of the heliotail provided new information about the shape and dynamics of the heliosphere. It also revealed that the heliosphere is more dynamic and asymmetric than previously thought.

What are the potential implications of IBEX's discovery?

IBEX's discovery of the heliotail could lead to a better understanding of the interactions between the solar wind and interstellar medium, as well as the effects of these interactions on the Earth and other planets within our solar system. It could also provide valuable insights into the processes of star formation and the formation of the heliosphere.

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