NASA launched the Interstellar Boundary Exploration Spacecraft (IBEX) on June 5438+1October, 2008, and recently drew a high-definition all-weather space map for the first time. In the process of orbiting the earth, the interstellar boundary probe spacecraft continuously monitors neutral atoms emerging at the edge of the solar system billions of miles away to explore the interaction between the solar system and outer space.
"The monitoring results of IBEX are amazing, because these substances are incompatible with the current theoretical inference, which is completely different from the scientists' hypothetical model for this first discovery area." David, a scientist at the Southwest Research Institute in Texas and the chief researcher of the interstellar boundary exploration spacecraft? Mccomas said: "We expect that smaller and slower spatial changes may be observed at the edge of the solar system billions of miles away. However, the interstellar boundary detection spacecraft found a narrow band of light, which is two or three times brighter than any celestial body in space. "
With the help of the solar wind composed of charged particles, the sun blows away from the sun in all directions at the speed of1.6-3.2 million kilometers per hour, laying a protective bubble around the solar system, which is called the heliosphere. It forms a distant boundary with Pluto's orbit, where the charged particles emitted by the sun gradually disappear. It protects the planets in the solar system from deadly cosmic rays. The edge of the solar system is where the solar wind collides with other stars in the Milky Way. The newly discovered high energy band is located in the outermost layer of the solar system heliosphere.
The distant edge of the solar system
Outside the heliosphere, positively charged particles emitted by the sun interact with neutral atoms floating in interstellar space. When these particles collide, electrons in neutral atoms will escape to form ions, and the first charged particles will become neutral. The interplanetary boundary detection spacecraft accurately observed these fast-moving neutral particles, tracked their tracks at the edge of the solar system in real time, and drew a high-definition image of the chaotic boundary of the solar system.
"We are deeply studying the interaction between the interstellar medium around the solar system and the heliosphere. Such a space image is of great significance. " Albert Mo Bisi, a scientist at the University of New Hampshire, said.
Subvert traditional physics theory
Scientists involved in the exploration program said that they were shocked by the bright light band in the celestial map drawn by the interstellar boundary exploration spacecraft because its existence had not been predicted by any theoretical model before.
Mccomas said: "When I first saw the pictures taken by the interstellar boundary exploration spacecraft, I thought there must be some mistakes. This is incredible! It took us a long time to convince ourselves that it really exists. "
Mccomas said briefly on Thursday: "This band of light is formed by the influence of external magnetic field. Its discovery plays an important role in the study of interstellar relations. However, we have not yet formed an understanding of the basic principles of interstellar action, because the new exploration results completely violate the inference of basic physics. "
Voyager spacecraft has a long way to go.
The Voyager Sisters spacecraft is used by the United States to observe Jupiter and Saturn. After completing the scheduled mission, NASA rescheduled the missions of two deep space travelers to explore the space outside planets of the solar system.
In 2004, Voyager 1 launched by the United States more than 30 years ago first explored the boundary of the solar system. When charged particles emitted by the sun come into contact with neutral gas from outer space, it will produce vibration phenomena that cannot be observed by the naked eye. In 2007, Voyager 2 followed closely and flew to the edge of the solar system. They run outward at a speed of 17 km per second. As these spacecraft explored the distant edge of the solar system, the interstellar boundary exploration spacecraft finally took the latest and most comprehensive celestial map. In the next few decades, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 will be the only source for scientists to observe the far end of the solar system.
"The most shocking thing about the IBEX celestial map is that this narrow band of light like a long snake is just between the observation ranges of two voyager spacecraft, so that it has not been completely detected until now."