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All these articles are a bit meaningless to someone, such as me, that don't even know what the definition of the solar system is (and no article seems to care a

by tjoff 14y ago

All these articles are a bit meaningless to someone, such as me, that don't even know what the definition of the solar system is (and no article seems to care about it). To me, the solar system is just a heap of planets orbiting the sun. With that definition once you pass the orbit of the last planet your have exited the solar system (although since the orbits aren't circular and they all are in the ~same plane there sure is still some room for debate about the exact border of the solar system) - and consequently when pluto was excluded the size of the solar system shrank. I don't imagine that my simple view of the matter is in any way accurate, but considering that noone seems to know where och what is supposed to happen when you leave the solar system, what are we then waiting for? That something odd is happening and then, aha! That must be it! This is from now on the definition of the end of the solar system? Sure, there might be a border where cosmic rays from outside of the solar system greatly increase etc. but does that have to coincide with the definition of the solar system?

001sky 14y ago
Space is not 'space' (ie, a vaccum) in the solar system, viz http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interplanetary_medium http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interplanetary_medium [1] At the edge of the sun's impact, there is a transition zone. That transition zone is the subject of this discussion. Its the 'solar' that makes it a system. the solar system is sort of like the earths atmoshpere, in that regard. At a certain stage there is a transistion into the next level. This is probably oversimplified, but has the important general idea out on the table. Others can refine as appropriate. [1] http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4619870 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4619870
ejdyksen 14y ago
There is no clear definition for the edge of the solar system[1]. The Voyager spacecraft are helping to define it. The heliopause is a pretty reasonable way to define the edge of the solar system. A stated goal of the Voyager mission is to search for the heliopause boundary[2]: Both Voyagers are headed towards the outer boundary of the solar system in search of the heliopause, the region where the Sun's influence wanes and the beginning of interstellar space can be sensed. The heliopause has never been reached by any spacecraft; the Voyagers may be the first to pass through this region, which is thought to exist somewhere from 8 to 14 billion miles from the Sun. This is where the million-mile-per-hour solar winds slows to about 250,000 miles per hour—the first indication that the wind is nearing the heliopause. The Voyagers should cross the heliopause 10 to 20 years after reaching the termination shock. That having been said, this is a poor title. The news is not that the spacecraft has simply crossed a boundary. The news is that the boundary, until now unknown, was discovered (potentially). The difference is "Ship successfully crosses Atlantic Ocean" vs "Columbus discovers New World". Perhaps a better title would be "More evidence that Voyager 1 has found the heliopause, considered to be the edge of the solar system". ---- [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_System#Farthest_regions http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_System#Farthest_regions [2] http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/interstellar.html http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/interstellar.html
- cema 14y ago
  There is no clear definition for the edge of the solar system[1]. The Voyager spacecraft are helping to define it. I think this is a very important observation. Thanks!
loceng 14y ago
Others posted this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heliosphere http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heliosphere which helped me learn about the Heliosphere; The idea is that there's a boundary line created, instead of constant gradual reduction, because the sun's solar winds are no longer strong enough to counter the energies coming from the rest of the universe. Pretty fucking cool to all think about.

by tjoff 14y ago

001sky 14y ago

Space is not 'space' (ie, a vaccum) in the solar system, viz http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interplanetary_medium http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interplanetary_medium [1] At the edge of the sun's impact, there is a transition zone. That transition zone is the subject of this discussion. Its the 'solar' that makes it a system. the solar system is sort of like the earths atmoshpere, in that regard. At a certain stage there is a transistion into the next level. This is probably oversimplified, but has the important general idea out on the table. Others can refine as appropriate. [1] http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4619870 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4619870

ejdyksen 14y ago

There is no clear definition for the edge of the solar system[1]. The Voyager spacecraft are helping to define it. The heliopause is a pretty reasonable way to define the edge of the solar system. A stated goal of the Voyager mission is to search for the heliopause boundary[2]: Both Voyagers are headed towards the outer boundary of the solar system in search of the heliopause, the region where the Sun's influence wanes and the beginning of interstellar space can be sensed. The heliopause has never been reached by any spacecraft; the Voyagers may be the first to pass through this region, which is thought to exist somewhere from 8 to 14 billion miles from the Sun. This is where the million-mile-per-hour solar winds slows to about 250,000 miles per hour—the first indication that the wind is nearing the heliopause. The Voyagers should cross the heliopause 10 to 20 years after reaching the termination shock. That having been said, this is a poor title. The news is not that the spacecraft has simply crossed a boundary. The news is that the boundary, until now unknown, was discovered (potentially). The difference is "Ship successfully crosses Atlantic Ocean" vs "Columbus discovers New World". Perhaps a better title would be "More evidence that Voyager 1 has found the heliopause, considered to be the edge of the solar system". ---- [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_System#Farthest_regions http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_System#Farthest_regions [2] http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/interstellar.html http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/interstellar.html

cema 14y ago
There is no clear definition for the edge of the solar system[1]. The Voyager spacecraft are helping to define it. I think this is a very important observation. Thanks!

loceng 14y ago

Others posted this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heliosphere http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heliosphere which helped me learn about the Heliosphere; The idea is that there's a boundary line created, instead of constant gradual reduction, because the sun's solar winds are no longer strong enough to counter the energies coming from the rest of the universe. Pretty fucking cool to all think about.