Interesting article from SPACE.com updating the shape of the helioshpere. Data from both Voyager craft indicate that the shape is asymmetrical, thinner in the southern hemisphere and thicker in the north. (I know what you're thinking, Mike, about the taxes :o) Possibly a weak interstellar magnetic field; see "Voyager 2 Detects Odd Shape of Solar System's Edge"
As I understand it, there's more to it than that. The termination shock actual moves in and out relative to the sun. This is related to the 11 year cycle of solar activity. Basically, when the sun is blowing off more material, it creates waves of greater pressure which push the shock outward when they get to it. Then, in between such waves, the shock will move inward.
As it happens, the termination shock should be in one of its inward moving phases now (which, the thinking is, started shortly before Voyager 1 first detected it). This means that some of the discrepancy in the distance at which the shock is seen is actually due to the shock having moving inward over time.
The discussion about asymmetry comes from models which suggest that the shock should not have moved in far enough for Voyager 2 to be detecting its effects yet if it had been at the same distance there as it was where Voyager 1 passed it when Voyager 1 passed it.
RE: Out of curiosity, why
)
Educated guess:
Call Voyager 2 "Turtle"
Call Voyager 1 "Achilles"
The turtle starts before Achilles but it ends being catched.
Tullio
RE: Out of curiosity, why
)
They had to get the dates right for the release of one of the earlier Star Trek movies, I think ....... :-)
Cheers, Mike.
I have made this letter longer than usual because I lack the time to make it shorter ...
... and my other CPU is a Ryzen 5950X :-) Blaise Pascal
RE: Interesting article
)
As I understand it, there's more to it than that. The termination shock actual moves in and out relative to the sun. This is related to the 11 year cycle of solar activity. Basically, when the sun is blowing off more material, it creates waves of greater pressure which push the shock outward when they get to it. Then, in between such waves, the shock will move inward.
As it happens, the termination shock should be in one of its inward moving phases now (which, the thinking is, started shortly before Voyager 1 first detected it). This means that some of the discrepancy in the distance at which the shock is seen is actually due to the shock having moving inward over time.
The discussion about asymmetry comes from models which suggest that the shock should not have moved in far enough for Voyager 2 to be detecting its effects yet if it had been at the same distance there as it was where Voyager 1 passed it when Voyager 1 passed it.
RE: RE: Out of curiosity,
)
ROFLOL