An artist's concept of the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 probes near interstellar space. CREDIT: NASA/JPL [Full Story]
Posted on 06/07/2011 7:26:11 AM PDT by Red Badger
The edge of our solar system is filled with a turbulent sea of magnetic bubbles, according to new NASA research.
Scientists made the discovery by using a new computer model, which is based on data from NASA's twin Voyager probes. The unmanned Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, which launched in 1977, are plying the outer reaches of our solar system, a region known as the heliosheath.
The new discovery suggests that researchers will need to revise their views about the solar system's edge, NASA officials said. A more detailed picture of this region is key to our understanding of how fast-moving particles known as cosmic rays are spawned, and how they reach near-Earth space.
Cosmic rays are a threat to astronauts, as they can slam into spaceflyers' cells and damage their DNA. Earth's atmosphere attenuates cosmic rays, shielding folks on the ground from their worst effects.
NASA hasn't revealed many details about the new find. The space agency will hold a media teleconference at 1 p.m. EDT on Thursday (June 9) to discuss it in more depth.
Participating in the teleconference are:
— Arik Posner, Voyager program scientist, Heliophysics Division, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
— Merav Opher, assistant professor of astronomy, Boston University
— James F. Drake, professor of physics, University of Maryland
— Edward C. Stone, Voyager project scientist, professor of physics, Caltech
— Eugene Parker, professor emeritus of physics, University of Chicago
Voyager 1 is now about 11 billion miles (17.7 billion kilometers) from Earth, while Voyager 2 is about 9 billion miles (14.5 billion km) away. Voyager 1 is the most far-flung human-made object in the universe.
An artist's concept of the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 probes near interstellar space. CREDIT: NASA/JPL [Full Story]
Ping!...........
Bubble headed booby bump...
are they still able to transmit from these things????
that’s pretty amazing
some people I know smoked some weed out of a part that is on this thing
And NASA pushes Global Warming.
NASA is damaged goods. The space program has been gutted, NASA now does muslim outreach and Global Warming pimping.
I’m not sure my faith in NASA will ever be restored.
This is the problem with NASA spending millions on what ifs and maybes and not a damn thing on getting out there. Build something and see if it frigging works, that is called research.
The full article:
http://www.space.com/10482-nasa-voyager-1-spacecraft-nearing-edge-solar-system.html
“I’m not sure my faith in NASA will ever be restored.”
Nope. Mine either. I’m surprised they haven’t claimed those are Muslim bubbles...
Hell, that ain’t nuthin. We got bubbles right here on Earth: housing bubble, gold bubble, etc.
Chuckle...
Turn off’a da bubble machine!
Just wait til “Veger” comes back looking for the “creator”, where’s Kirk when ya really need him?
In 34 years they have traveled about 15 light hours. It’s going to be a long flight to the next star at this rate.
Magnetic bubbles ?
I think I had that after consuming too many Old Styles.
an’ Congressional bubbleheads ... not to be confused with the dignified bobbleheads.
LAWRENCE WELK IS IN OUTER SPACE????
Vger must rid the Earth of the carbon based units infestation......
Well, yeah, those broadcasts on PBS are still going, and going, and going.................
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