Astronomers Shocked: "The Edge Of The Solar System Is Tied Up With A Ribbon"
Boundary Explorer, or IBEX, has just produced new images of the solar system that has shocked astronomers. This first full-sized map shows 9 billion miles of atoms surrounding the solar system that scientists are describing as looking like a ribbon. This completely defied expectations: astronomers believed the atoms were evenly distributed rather than densely packed together in this ribbon formation. Take a look at the map for yourself.
National Geographic reports:
See video and read more at: Astronomers Shocked: "The Edge Of The Solar System Is Tied Up With A Ribbon" (VIDEO)
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Boundary Explorer, or IBEX, has just produced new images of the solar system that has shocked astronomers. This first full-sized map shows 9 billion miles of atoms surrounding the solar system that scientists are describing as looking like a ribbon. This completely defied expectations: astronomers believed the atoms were evenly distributed rather than densely packed together in this ribbon formation. Take a look at the map for yourself.
National Geographic reports:
"Exactly where the [galaxy's] magnetic field is most wrapped around the outer boundary of the heliosphere, that's where the ribbon runs," [IBEX principal investigator David] McComas said. "That could be an unbelievably remarkable coincidence, or it could be a fabulous clue that somehow this external magnetic field is actually imprinting onto our heliosphere through some process that we don't yet understand."
See video and read more at: Astronomers Shocked: "The Edge Of The Solar System Is Tied Up With A Ribbon" (VIDEO)
More...