//A Small Perspective//
The shape of you, the shape of our world and something much beyond. Our universe is vast and it’s amazing how much resource we have poured into exploring what is out of reach. Despite just scratching the surface of the unknown, NASA have produced imagery of what our solar system and its shape is somewhat unexpected to some. Modelling and imaging software have come leaps and bound and our advancement has yet once again given a path to creating something of value, a wider perspective of our solar system. It’s a difficult task when we are just a small point within the wider system and much work has gone into progressing heliophysics, which includes everything related to understanding space including the various climates that exist in all of its corners.
//Heliosphere Shape//
Previous models saw the heliosphere (shape of our bubble in space) to be almost oval shaped based on the interactions of our sun and the rest of space as our system travels. The sun is the main driving factor and initial thoughts saw our solar system being perceived with similar characteristics to a comet. New techniques and technology are now pointing to a different picture that reminds me of a stingray as hot pick-up ions/thermal ion distinction techniques were used to create a modern model of the heliosphere. Two jet like trails can be seen rather than a single tail and scientists are using this study to uncover secrets of the medium outside of the heliopshere.
//Keep on Discovering//
Protection from what is beyond our system, namely cosmic rays that are emitted from other system are now thought to be blocked by the helioshpere through absorption. There isn’t total protection from these destructive rays and this is an important consideration for all space related ventures. If space travel takes off in the future, cosmic rays will remain as an uncertainty that would most definitely put people at high risk if exposed in any form while in space. In short, knowing the shape of our solar system is neat but the interactions behind its shape is where the value is derived from. As science continues to progress, further revelations around our heliosphere will be uncovered and may even hold the key to assessing the conditions and climates of other areas in the solar system. Sensing, modelling and deductive techniques will continue to contribute and advance these theories, perhaps future discoveries will continue to challenge all of our legacy concepts too.
Sources
https://www.universetoday.com/147338/this-is-what-the-solar-system-really-looks-like/