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Voyager 2 Detects Peculiar Solar System Edge

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the magnet-on-a-really-long-string dept.

ClickOnThis writes "CNN reports that Voyager 2 has detected evidence of the magnetic edge of the solar system (aka the heliopause) at 76 AU (1 AU = 93 million miles), much closer to the Sun than the location of 85 AU found by Voyager 1. From the article: 'This implies that the heliosphere, a spherical bubble of charged low-energy particles created by our Sun's solar wind, is irregularly shaped, bulging in the northern hemisphere and pressed inward in the south. [...] The researchers think that the heliosphere's asymmetry might be due to a weak interstellar magnetic field pressing inward on the southern hemisphere.'"

4 of 272 comments (clear)

  1. heliosphere shrinkage - we're the cause by Doug+Dante · · Score: 0, Redundant

    This plain evidence of heliosphere shrinkage is clearly linked to our overindulgence of fossil fuels, and the tremendous buildup of heliospheric damaging gasses emitted from our atmosphere and into our precious heliosphere.

    We must work together to recognize this inconvenient truth and change our everyday lives lest the heliosphere collapse entirely and we die of interstellar radiation.

    --
    The world will not get better through technology. We must seek to be better people.
  2. There's a hole in the magnetic layer by lelitsch · · Score: 0, Redundant

    I think this must be somewhat caused by electronic polution from earth. The only way to restore the magnetosphere is limiting our emmissions of electromagnetic gas.

    We should found a grass roots movement to pressure the government to step in and protest in front of the cooperations that are the biggest generators of electromagnetic gas pollution.

    Also, I think the government needs to allocate a large amount of money for contractors in the most important congressional districts to develop technology to reduce electromagnetic gas pollution.

    (Those who don't understand sarcasm are doomed to repeat it)

  3. Global warming is responsible for this! by stankulp · · Score: 0, Redundant

    If we don't do something right now the entire magnetosphere is going to collapse.

    There is a study by 10,938 Sociology professors that proves it!

    --
    We must be alert to the danger that public policy could become captive to a scientific-technological elite. - Eisenhower
  4. Caused by humans by liquid-groove · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Clearly this massive shinkage is due to human activity here on earth. We're now not only destroying our own planet, we're destroying the solar system.