Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Voyager 2 Shows Solar System Is "Dented"

Posted by kdawson on from the folded-spindled-mutilated dept.

Selikoff writes "NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft has found that our solar system is not round but is 'dented' by the local interstellar magnetic field, space experts said on Monday. The data were gathered by the craft on its 30-year journey when it crossed into a region called the 'termination shock.' The data showed that the southern hemisphere of the solar system's heliosphere is being pushed in. Voyager 2 is the second spacecraft to enter this region of the solar system, behind Voyager 1, which reached the northern region of the heliosheath in December 2004."

4 of 173 comments (clear)

  1. Last Time I Let Him Borrow the Car! by curmudgeon99 · · Score: 0, Redundant

    The Solar System is Dented! God damn it! That's the last time I let Voyager 2 borrow the Solar System. This is going to have to come out of Voyager 2's allowance!

  2. I could have... by inode_buddha · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Dented?!?!

    I could have saved 15% or more on my solar system insurance...

    --
    C|N>K
  3. It's like.... by argStyopa · · Score: 0, Redundant

    ...millions of personal-injury lawyers cried out in pleasure at the idea of the galaxy's largest class-action damages lawsuit, and were suddenly silenced - by realizing that simply serving the summons on that bastard Fomalhaut (we know it was him, he's always been a troublemaker) would take longer than their lifespans.

    Nevertheless, I'm sure a few are planning to file anyway this morning, "just in case".

    --
    -Styopa
  4. Re:Shape? by shokk · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Going to go out on a limb here and guess that this has to do with our sun's solar cycles. But also which star systems have passed through these areas of the galaxy thousands of years before us, and of course, their solar cycles. Next year, or 20 years after, the other side could be squashed. I think it probably more resembles a flame.

    --
    "Beware of he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart, he dreams himself your master."